Massie v. Palo Pinto Independent School District

CONNER, Chief Justice.

—The judgment appealed from in this case is one in favor of appellee for the aggregate sum of $65.15, due from appellant as delinquent and unpaid taxes, interest and costs for the years 1898, 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904, with foreclosure of the tax lien upon certain real estate described in the petition. It was admitted on the trial, as- in general terms it was alleged, that appellee prior to 1898 had duly incorporated under the laws of this State as an independent school district; and that on July -28 of that year it had duly and legally voted a special tax of twenty-five cents on every one hundred dollars valuation of all taxable property within the district for the purpose of furnishing, constructing and •repairing public school buildings. It was further admitted that the taxes sought to be recovered and adjudged had been for each of the years named “duly and legally leviedthat they had been duly returned delinquent and were unpaid. Appellant’s only defense was that as treasurer of said school district he bad during the scholastic year ending August 31, 1898, paid out on vouchers issued by the board of trustees the sum of $135.57 more than he had received.

We are of opinion that the court properly disregarded this defense, as he did by his rulings on demurrer, in excluding evidence, and in entering judgment for appellee. The taxes were authorized and imposed by the board of trustees of the appellee district for a special purpose, not including the payment of pre-existing indebtedness, as that of appellant’s was shown to be, and such boards are given by law “full management and control” of the free schools within independent districts. See chapter XV, title 86, Revised Statutes. It therefore cannot avail appellant that his report as treasurer for the scholastic year ending August 31, 1898, and which showed the antecedent indebtedness herein claimed, was approved by the Commissioners’ Court of Palo Pinto County and later by the State Superintendent of Education. Appellant nowhere shows an approval and direction of the board of trustees of the Palo Pinto Independent School • District to pay his claim, and it would certainly defeat the purposes of the law if individual tax payers could refuse to pay taxes duly assessed and levied, on the grounds urged.

We conclude that all assignments of error should be overruled and' the judgment affirmed.

Affirmed.