Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 231]

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1915]

PROCEEDINGS OE THE BOARD OE TRUSTEES.

231

1. Bills to repeal the law altogether. 2. Bills reducing the rate of the tax from one to one-half or three-Jourths mill. 3. Bills imposing charges on the mill tax fund which do not properly belong there. 4. Bills to appropriate only a part of the total sum provided by the tax. Of these, the first three will doubtless be defeated in the Legislature. The fourth form of attack—.i e. of refusing to appropriate the full amount of the fund, is the most subtile and dangerous one and the most injurious to all the interests of the State represented in the University. The full amount provided by the tax is intended for the University. The University needs every dollar of it. The fund can not be legally used for any other purpose. The effect of refusing to appropriate this money will be: to deprive the University of needed funds; to violate the spirit of the law now upon the statute books; to pile up money in the State Treasury which can be used for no other purpose; and worst of all pave the way for a repeal of the law two years from this date on the ground that the University fund has a large unused balance in it. It is perfectly proper, of course, for the Legislature to repeal the Mill Tax Law at any time when in the opinion of that body the interests of the State would be advanced by such action. But it should be done openly and above board with the issue clearly drawn so that every member of the Legislature and every citizen of the State can understand fully what is going on; and then only after full discussion in the Legislature and in the State so that at least as much thought and consideration shall be given to the question of repeal as was given to the passage of the law. The proposition to leave a large unappropriated balance in the fund is a most insidious and dangerous attack on the whole plan—all the more dangerous when it is favored on the ostensible score of economy. There is no doubt what the permanent will of the People of the State is on this subject when they once understand the issue. The repeal of the Mill Tax Law or the practical nullification of it by refusing to appropriate in full the proceeds of the tax will affect profoundly and injuriously every interest of the commonwealth represented in the University and that means the interests of higher education in every department: Agriculture, Engineering, Business, Teaching, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medicine, and Law. The Trustees will expend this money along essentially the same lines as during the last biennium, developing the various departments to their highest degree of usefulness * adding the necessary buildings, providing necessary equipment, improving the teaching force, and caring more fully for the physical, moral, and intellectual welfare of the young people commended to their care—now more than 6,000 in number. If any citizen wishes to know in detail what the Trustees did with the funds of the last biennium a copy of the last Comptroller's report will be sent on request. The Trustees are asking for the proceeds of the mill tax as the law contemplates—neither more nor less—and that this money be appropriated in a lump sum or in the form already approved by the last Legislature. (1) Amount of 1912 levy on account of the University mill tax. . $2,343,673 23 (2) Receipts into Treasury from 1912 tax levy for the University of Illinois mill tax fund up to July 1, 1915 2,267,004 17 (3) Amount of 1913 levy on account of the University of Illinois mill tax 2,422,361 95 (4) Receipts into State Treasury from the 1913 tax levy for the University of Illinois mill tax fund up to July 1, 1915, (being (3) less 4-per cent of the same for abatements in collections) 2,325,467 48 (5) Total receipts into the State Treasury on account of the tax levy for 1912 and 1913 for the University of Illinois mill tax fund ". 4,592,471 65 (6) Appropriation for the biennium beginning July 1, 1913, and closing June 30, 1915, a'gainst the tax levies for 1912 and 1913 4,500,000 00 (7) Balance of proceeds of the tax levies of 1912 and 1913 for the benefit'of the University of Illinois mill tax fund still unappropriated 92,471 65 (8) Amount of 1914 levy on account of University mill t a x . . . . . . 2,455,745 80 (9) Receipts into the Treasury from 1914 tax levy for the University of Illinois mill tax fund up to July 1, 1915 being (8) less 4 per cent 2,357,515 97 (10) Amount of 1915 levy on account of University mill tax fund (estimate of State Auditor Mar. 31, 1915) 2,700,000 00 (11) Receipts into Treasury from 1915 tax levy for the University of Illinois mill tax fund up to July 1, 1916 (being (10) less 4 per cent 2,592,000 00 (12) Total receipts into Treasury from the tax levies of 1914 and 1915 for the University mill tax (being (9) and (11) ) . . . , ' . 4,949,515 97 (13) Total income of the mill tax fund for the biennium July 1, 1915, and ending June 30, 1917— (a) Balance unappropriated from the levies , of 1912 and 1913 $ 92,471 65 (b) Proceeds of levies for 1914 and 1915... 4,949,515 97 Total $5,041,987 62

On motion of Mrs. Henrotin, President James was authorized to present this statement to the Appropriation Committees of the General Assembly.