Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-03-28

views Dy PfGSluenC T.. j. MORSE, III
Jas. Fowler, c. B. ziegler and Eu-
gene Woodhouse are presented Mr..
Morse's article can be foand on page
2. The Others follow:
FIGURES ON SCHOOL COSTS
CDR. James FoWler)
Every voter should know and keep
clearly in mind when he goes to the
District School Meeting next Friday
night, that this meeting was called to
vote an increase of $4,000 over the
bonds already provided for and sold
by the district and not, as some would
have him believe, to vote an entirely
new issue Of $250,000.
He should also know and under
stand that of the original S175,OOO
provided for at the annual meeting in
1919, $4,000 has already been paid
off, leaving only total Of $140,00O
outstanding. Of this $4,000 which
has already been paid into the treas
ury, $4,000 has been used to pur-
chase a site for the new building ana
the remaining $24,800 is now on de-
post earning 40 for the school dis
trict. Should the proposed $4,000 in
crease be approved, the bonded in
debtedness of the district will then be
only 1905, 900, instead Of the $25O,0OO
that some would have you believe.
Naturally the voter wants to know
before voting for or against this in
crease Just how much IN DOLLARS
AND CENTS it is going to increase
his own individual taxes, and this
phase of the subject the writer has
gone into thoroughly and accurately.
The figures given below are from the
official records of the City Treasurer
and the secretary of the school board
and are correct. The process by
which conclusions are arrived at art
fully set forth and may be verified by
anyone who doubts their accuracy.
The total amount Of taxes paid into
the treasury of the City of Lancaster
this year was $109, 650.18. This
amount included Lancaster's share OF
the general state tax, taxes for main
tainance of the city, regular school
taxes, taxes to meet interest and pay
ments on the municipal building
bonds and taxes to meet Lancaster's
share of the $4,000 school district
bonds already outstanding.
If the proposed new loan of $4,000
is approved and bonds maturing in 10
years issued it will be necessary
pay back on the principal $4,333 a
year and interest at an average OF
S1,625 a year for Is years, making a
total of $5,958, which must be added
to the tax levy each year because of
the new loan.
Of this $5,958 the City of Lancaster
will pay 500 and the part of the dis
trict outside the city will pay 20%o.
The city's share will be $4,766 and the
share of the part of the district out
side the city will be $1,192.
S4.766 (the amount which must be
added to the tax roll if the extra loan
of SOS, 1000 be approved is exactly
1850 Of $109,630. (The total amount
of taxes paid this year by the City OF
Lancaster,.) 1t is therefor plain to be
seen that the actual increase over the
total of this years taxes will be
1850. To make it palmer, if you
paid $4,000 in taxes last year your
Increase because of the new loan will
be S4.35. If your tax was only $4,000
YOUR increase will be $21712, while
if your tax was $1,000.00 you will
have to pay an increase of $43.5O.
These figures apply to the City OF
Lancaster alone as the writer was UNI
able to learn total taxes paid last
wear by the part of the district out
side the city.
However. by a simple problem in
arithmetic we find that with $5,95S to
he raised upon a total valuation Of
S4.0SO. 600. the rate of taxation would
he 1.22 mills on each dollar, or $1.22
upon each $1,000 of assessed yalua-
ton. BY knowing the valuation OF
his farm in thousands and then null
tiplving the number of thousands by
% the farmer can in a minute learn
exactly what this new loan is going
to cost him each year. We venture
that it will surprise the average man
to find how small the amount VIII pc.
The voter should also understand
that the school district is now paying
in rents for room outside its school
buildings and in extra janitor service,
heating, ETC., in the neighborhood OF
$1,000 a year and. that it will lose on
the 100000 bonds already sold the
difference between $50 interest 1t
pavs on them and the 40 which is the
hest it can expect to get for the use
of the money, or $1,000 year; MAX
ing a total of about $4,000 lost each
wear that building is delayed.
Further than this, he should know
that a kindergarten was petitioned
for last year and that the school board
is legally bound to install one when
a proper petition is presented. The
board ignored this petition year ago.
for the very good reason that the dis
trict has not and could not get
suitable room, but it cannot go on
ignoring it indefinitely. Also, it is
certain that. unless the board can
show that relief is in sight. the state
superintendent of education will in
sist that more room be provided in
order to relieve over-crowding in the
grades. If our new building is delay
ed another year the board will be
compelled to add at least another