Seattle’s Schools Ask Voters to Make the Ledger Balance

At a special meeting of the Seattle Board of Education yesterday morning, it was decided to hold a special election on April 27 to ask the people to ratify and validate the debt of the district for strictly school purposes, so far as the debt does not exceed the legal percentage of taxable property. The floating debt of the district now amounts to $37,000, all in outstanding warrants, besides the bonded debt. The meeting was called on the petition of F. A. Churchill, George H. Kline and a third member, being a majority of the board, and J. Colkett presided. A resolution calling the election was introduced and carried unanimously. Arrangements were made for the form of ballots and polling places, including the corner of Second and Madison streets and various school buildings. The polls were to open at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. The clerk was instructed to give public notice. The board also directed that the county treasurer be notified of the action and of the act approved March 1 providing for validating school district debts. The effect would be to make funds in the treasurer’s hands available for warrants. If voters refused to ratify the outstanding debt, the board would have to make a special levy of not more than 3 mills to retire the floating debt. The board called the election with the idea that it would put the district on a strictly cash basis, facilitate business and be better for taxpayers. It meant that teachers and employees of the district would no longer be compelled to discount their salary warrants and hold them; if the funding proposition carried, they could present their warrants to the county treasurer and receive cash.