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fied, or it may direct that a minimum amount per child of school age, per teacher, per inhabitant, or according to the average daily attendance be raised; that a minimum rate on the total valuation of taxable property be levied; or that the amount of tax be proportionate to the amount of money apportioned to the localities by the State. In addition to these basic requirements, a State may demand that its localities levy a local specified poll tax for general school purposes; or it may require them to levy additional or special taxes of adequate amount when State or local funds, or both, are insufficient to meet school expenses.

UNSPECIFIED RATE OR AMOUNT.

The first of the bases relating to required taxation leaves the rate or amount of tax to be raised by local authorities indefinite, that is, the levying of an annual local tax is required, but the rate or amount of tax is unspecified so far as the minimum is concerned. Eighteen States are included in this group, the taxes levied being either for general or specific purposes.

General purposes.-In Connecticut, the law does not directly state that a town or district tax must be levied, but it does state that schools must be maintained for at least 36 weeks in each year in every town and school district. Further, the law provides that no town shall receive any money from the State treasury for any district unless the school therein has been kept during the term specified. Still further, money appropriated by the State must be used only for teachers' salaries. To comply with the law, therefore, it is necessary for a local tax to be levied. In Kentucky, county boards of education estimate the educational needs of the county, and the county must levy a tax for school purposes. In Massachusetts, towns must raise by taxation the money necessary for the support of schools. In Michigan, boards of education in township school districts must vote the taxes necessary in addition to other school funds for teachers' salaries and for regular school expenses. In Minnesota, school boards in independent districts must provide by tax necessary funds for the conduct of schools and the payment of indebtedness. In unorganized territory, county boards of education must levy a tax for the purpose of providing schools, teachers, transportation and board of pupils, textbooks, apparatus, school supplies, etc. In Mississippi, separate school districts must levy a tax sufficient to pay for fuel and other necessities and must also levy such taxes as may be necessary to insure the maintainance of schools during the minimum term. In Nebraska, legal voters must levy a district tax sufficient to maintain schools for the minimum term. In New Mexico, school boards must estimate for collection the rate of tax necessary for the maintenance of schools. In New York, districts must levy the amount certified by boards of education or school trustees as being necessary for teachers' salaries and contingent expenses. In Ohio, district school boards must fix the rate of taxation necessary for all school purposes after State funds are exhausted. In Oklahoma, county commissioners must levy a county tax sufficient to maintain schools. In Pennsylvania, all taxes required by any school district, in addition to the State appropriation, are to be levied by the board of school directors therein.2 In Rhode Island, although the law does not directly state that towns must levy a local tax, yet it does state that every town must establish and maintain a sufficient number of

Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.

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* In districts of the first class, boards of education must levy a tax of at least 5 mills.

public schools. Further, the law declares that no part of the State appropriation may be received by any town unless it raises by tax for the support of public schools a sum equal to the amount that it may receive from the State treasury for the support of schools. To comply with the law, therefore, it is necessary for local taxes to be levied. In Utah, the board of county commissioners must levy a county tax for the support of schools. In Wisconsin, when a district fails to vote a tax sufficient to maintain schools for the minimum term, the school board must determine the sum necessary and the amount so fixed must be assessed.

Specific purposes.-In Minnesota, in districts containing 10 or more townships, a levy must be made to provide for the salaries and traveling expenses of members of the school board, the amount of salary and expenses varying with the number of schools in such districts. In New Hampshire, selectmen of towns must raise the amount determined upon by the voters for salaries of school boards and truant officers. In New Jersey, school districts must raise and appropriate an amount sufficient to pay for free texts and necessary school supplies. In New York, school boards must make ordinary repairs to schoolhouses and provide suitable outbuildings therefor, and a tax sufficient for these purposes must be levied; school boards must also levy taxes sufficient to insure school buildings and school libraries. In Ohio, when any school building has been condemned as unfit for use, and the county, township, or municipality concerned is without the necessary funds to remedy the defects, a tax must be levied sufficient to produce the sum necessary, within a legal maximum. In Washington, in districts of the first class, county commissioners must levy the amount of funds determined upon by district school boards as being necessary for creating or adding to the permanent insurance fund.

RATE OR AMOUNT ON VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY.

The second of the basic requirements designates, in terms of a specified sum, or of a specified rate on the valuation of taxable property-that is, of so many cents on the $100 or of so many mills on the dollar-the fixed or the minimum amount of local tax which must be raised for general or specific school purposes. This requirement holds in 15 States, and the details are as follows:

General purposes.-Colorado, county tax, not less than 2 mills. Delaware, district tax, $100 in Kent and New Castle Counties and $60 in Sussex County, assessed on the property of white persons for the support of schools for white children; $50 in Kent and New Castle Counties and $30 in Sussex County, assessed on the property of colored persons for the support of schools for colored children. Florida, county tax, not less than 3 mills. Idaho, county tax, not less than 15 cents. Iowa, county tax, not less than 1 mill. Louisiana, parish tax, not less than 3 mills. Minnesota, county tax, 1 mill. Missouri, district tax, 40 cents. Montana, county tax, 4 mills. Nevada, county tax, not less than 20 cents. North Dakota, county tax, 2 mills. Oregon, district tax, 5 mills, or such rate as will produce an amount sufficient to yield the district the difference between $300 and the amount received from the county school fund. South Carolina, county tax, 3 mills. Vermont, town tax, not less than one-fifth of the grand list. Virginia, county and district tax, not less than 10 cents each (may be less by special order of the State board of education).

Specific purposes.—In North Dakota, a rate sufficient to equalize property, funds on hand, and debts, when the boundaries of school districts are changed.

AMOUNT DETERMINED BY DESIGNATED BASES.

The third requirement, which is operative in 9 States, names the fixed or the minimum amount which must be raised by localities for general or specific purposes per child of school age, per teacher, per

inhabitant, according to the average daily attendance, or proportionate to the amount of money received from the regular State apportionment. In 4 of these States, the minimum tax, as calculated on its basis, must never exceed the maximum tax, as calculated on a property valuation basis.

Per child of school age.—In California the county tax must yield $550 per teacher, less the amount of the State apportionment, provided such a basis yields at least $13 per pupil in average daily attendance in the county; if not, the latter basis holds; in no case, however, may the tax levied exceed the legal maximum. In Oregon the county tax must yield at least $8 per child of school age, but in no case may the amount per child be less than that levied in 1910. Counties having a population of less than 100,000 inhabitants must levy for school libraries not less than 10 cents per child of school age. In Utah the district tax for school libraries must be 15 cents per child of school age. In Washington the county tax must yield at least $10 per child of school age within the legal maximum.

Per teacher.-In California the county tax must yield $550 per teacher, less the amount of the State apportionment, provided such a basis yields at least $13 per pupil in average daily attendance in the county; if not, the latter basis holds; in no case, however, may the tax levied exceed the legal maximum. In Wyoming the county tax must yield $300 per teacher within the legal maximum.

Per inhabitant.-In Maine, towns must raise less than 80 cents per inhabitant. According to average daily attendance.-In Arizona, within the legal maximum the county school levy is estimated by multiplying $35 by the sum representing the average daily attendance of the county during the first 8 months of the previous year; provided that such estimate must be sufficient to secure to every district at least $1,000; and provided further, that such final estimate must be increased by 10 per cent as a reserve fund.

Proportionate to State apportionment.-In New Hampshire the selectmen of each town must levy a sum to be computed at the rate of $750 for every dollar of the public taxes apportioned to such town. In Wisconsin every town or city must raise a sum equal to not less than one-half of the amount received from the income of the State school fund.

POLL OR OCCUPATION TAX.

Aside from these basic requirements, as just considered, 6 States require their localities to levy for general school purposes a local fixed poll or minimum occupation tax.

In Florida the county poll tax is $1, levied upon each male person over the age of 21 years and under the age of 55 years, except such as have lost a limb in battle. In North Dakota and South Dakota the county poll tax is $1, levied upon each elector. In New Mexico the district poll tax is $1, levied upon all able-bodied male persons of the age of 21 years or over. In Wyoming the county poll tax is $2, levied upon each person between the ages of 21 and 50 years, inclusive. In Pennsylvania, in districts of the second, third, and fourth classes, an occupation tax of at least $1 is levied upon each male resident or inhabitant over 21 years of age.

SPECIAL LEVY.

If State or local funds, or both, are insufficient to meet current school expenses, 18 States1 require the levy of additional or special

1 Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, 90757°-15

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taxes of adequate amount. The details of this requirement are as follows:

General purposes.-In Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Washington a district tax sufficient to maintain schools for the minimum term. In North Carolina a county tax of not less than 1 cent on the $100 of property valuation and not less than 3 cents on the poll in order to maintain schools for the minimum term. In Tennessee a county tax sufficient to maintain schools for the minimum term.

Specific purposes.-In Maryland a county tax sufficient in amount to meet the minimum salary law. In Michigan a township tax of 1 mill to pay teachers' salaries. In North Dakota, in independent school districts, sufficient to pay teachers' salaries and contingent expenses. In New Jersey, when townships elect to act under legislation pertaining to city school districts, a township tax equal to the amount of money determined upon by the board of school estimate for the purchase of sites, or for erecting, enlarging, repairing, and furnishing a schoolhouse or schoolhouses. Also in all districts a tax sufficient to provide two suitable outbuildings for each schoolhouse. In New York, where no tax for building a needed schoolhouse has been voted by the legal voters, a district tax in accordance with an estimate submitted by the district superintendent, which estimate may not be diminished by more than 25 per cent. In Wisconsin a town or district tax sufficient to provide proper outbuildings. In New Jersey, Oklahoma, North Dakota (within the legal maximum), South Dakota (within the legal maximum), Utah, and Wisconsin a district tax sufficient to satisfy judgments. In Minnesota a district tax sufficient to satisfy judgments, with interest. In Vermont a district tax sufficient to pay judgments and the charges and 12 per cent interest thereon.

Summary of unspecified, minimum, or fixed tax requirements.

[The letters in parentheses indicate the political division by which the tax is imposed, as follows: c, county; d, district; i, independent district; t, township or town; p, parish; u, unorganized territory.]

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1 $35 multiplied by the average daily attendance, but such tax must produce an amount sufficient to insure every district within the county not less than $1,000, and must be increased by 10 per cent as a reserve fund.

2 Alternatives according to conditions.

3 In Kent and New Castle Counties, $100 for schools for white children and $50 for schools for colored children; in Sussex County, $60 for schools for white children and $30 for schools for colored children.

4 Districts containing 10 or more townships.

"Three levies; one referring to townships acting under legislation pertaining to city school districts; the others to all other districts.

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