Wabash Railroad v. People

Citations

• 147 Ill. 196

Syllabus

<p>1. School law—statute construed—levy of taxes — on what year’s valuation. Section 1 of article 8 of the revised School law of 1889 authorizes the levy of a school tax for the support of schools, not to exceed two per cent on all the taxable property of school districts, “the valuation to be ascertained- by the last assessment for State and county taxes.” The “last assessment” means the assessment for the current year, and not that of the preceding year, so that a school tax levied in 1891 must be based on the assessment of property for that year, and not for the year 1890.</p> <p>2. School taxes are required to be computed and extended upon the valuation and assessment of property, for purposes of taxation, for the current and not for the previous year. The extension of the school tax on the tax books is made at the same time that the other taxes are levied and extended, and that- is'not until after the assessment of property for the current year has been made and has been equalized by the State board.</p> <p>3. The estimate by the school directors of the amount of money to be raised by taxation for school purposes is intended to be based upon the needs and requirements of the district in the maintenance of its schools. If such estimate happens to exceed two per cent of the equalized assessment, only the two per cent can be levied and extended on the tax books, and the excess must be abated.</p> <p>4. At the time when the rate per cent is to be ascertained and fixed by the county clerk and the tax extended on the tax books, the assessment for the current year will be completed, and “the last assessment for State and county taxes” is then the current assessment.</p>