Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1899 — New Township Bill. [ARTICLE]

New Township Bill.

Synopsis of a Very Important Eaw. * The township reform bill makes nearly as great a revolution in township government as the county reform bill in county. The following is a synopsis of all its important provisions. A township advisory board of three is provided for to be elected at the same time as the township trustee. Those elected in 1900 are to serve 2 years; after that the term is 4 years. Those to serve until 1900 are to be appointed by the ircuit court judge, at his first term in the county after the bill takes effect. The board the court appoints must be mixed in politics. The board meets the Ist Tuesday in September, with the trustee, to consider the various estimates of township expenses, proposed by the trustee, and has power to concur in his estimates, or any part of them, or to change or reject them. . i The board at their first meeting, may apportion the existing debt of the county, over a period of not more than 5 years. They shall decide how much money to raise by taxes, and shall fix the tax levies, for. all township uses; and the sole power of fixing such levies rests with this board. The board elects one member chairman and another secretary and the latter must keep a fait record of all proceedings. The meetings may adjourn from day to day until all business is At any session of such Board, any taxpayer of the township may* appear and beheard as to the advisabihty of any estimate or estimates of expenditures, or any proposed levy of taxes, or the approval of the Township Trustee’s report, or any other matter being considered by the Board. The trustee, 30 or 40 days before the annual meeting, must post, near each postoffice in Tp,, his estimates of proposed expenditures during tne year, and the tax levies he proposes. Copies of such notices must be published the Ist week in August, in the two leading newspapers of the county, representing the leading political parties, and also in one paper in the township if one is published. The cost of such publication is not to exceed $2 for any paper. The members of the advisory board must be. furnished with copies of the estimates. The place of meeting must be designated. The trustee’s estimate must state the amount

he wishes to raise of each fund, and the tax lev; for the same. The trustee must lay before the board the assessed valuation of the township and the' number of taxable polls. • r The trustees estimate must state the number of teachers employed, and their salary ; how many days needed for the discharge of his duties, the amount needed for bridge and road repairs; an itemized list of all property . and supplies on hand, for schools, roads ete.; the items of school supplies M -be seeded; the amount of! pauperism in the township; names of these who have received aid during the past -year} with the amounts for each person. Also the items to be charged against the township fund, such as salaries, stationery, justices’ records, pay of trustee and other items payable from such fund; Taxpayers present have a right to question the trustee on his estimates. The Board can not appropriate more for any item thah the trustee asks for, or any item not included by him, except by a unanimous vote. The members of the Board may

selves a salary not more than $5 per year. Special meetings may be called by the trustee or president, or a majority of the members of the board, and if an emergency is found to exist, may authorize the trustee to borrow money to meet such emergency; and a levy must be made at the next meeting to borrow money to meet such emergency; and a levy must be made at the next meeting to pay the debt so authorized. If the trustee makes any unauthorized debts, the amount must be recovered from him, by suit on his official bond. The board must bring such suit and if they do not any tax-payer may. The trustee is required to keep an itemized record of the financial affairs of the township, in a form of books prepared by the state auditor. At the annual meeting the trustee must present complete reports ofall A receipts, expenditures and balances in all funds, all other moneys in his hands; and each item df expenditure must have a verified receipt of the person who received it; stating particularly for what the payment was made, and that no part thereof has gone into the pockets of the trustee, or any other person; and the trustee is empowered to administer oaths to the persons giving the receipts. The trustee must swear to his ‘report, add that every sum has been paid just as shown, and that in no way shape or manner has he or Will he receive any* “divy” on any of his expenditures, nor any article of value in consideration of any contract made by him. In short if a trustee steals in one way, he will ,have to commit perjury in about t ways. The board shall consider the report, and approve what they find correct. Any unexpended balance in any fund, shall be carried over into the same fund the next year, and be considered in making the tax levies. The trustee’s reports remain in care of the chairman Of the board; and subject to the inspection of the taX-payers. At the final annual settlement the trustee must file a copy of his report with the county auditor.

Before building a new school house, the trustee must get full specifications, to be used by bidders. For buyingschool furniture, maps, supplies &c., except fuel, and periodicals authorized by the advisory board, he must make itemized estimates, fcnd to make repairs io school houses other than incidental ones, and for repairs or construction of bridges, he must make itemized statements; notices of all contracts let must be posted for 3 weeks in 5 public places and at each postoffice in township, and if the amount is to exceed 9500, notice must be given in two leading, county newspapers, and one of them must be a paper in the township, if one is published. The advisory board must attend the letting. All work or supplies of due class shall be let in one contract Bids must be in writing and opened ‘ and read publicly at the time and place fixed in the uotices. The trustee must consult with the advisory board on the bids, and the board has the right to reject any or all bids. ' While the per diem systems prevails, the number of days’ service the trustee is to be paid for shall be fixed and allowed each year by the advisory board, and this shall, constitute the entire compensation of the trustee for all the duties of his office. There is no emergency clause, and the law will not go into effect until all the laws are published. This law does not repeal the former law requiring township