PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE 245 
24.89. It therefore appears that in recent years the state 
school apportionments comprised approximately one fourth 
of the expenditures of the state for all maintenance purposes. 
ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM oF DISTRIBUTING STATE 
Ap MoxNEYS 
The analysis in this section is very largely confined to the 
Missouri system of distributing funds to the localities for 
school purposes under the so-called equalization grants. The 
aid to rural schools, the aid to consolidated districts, the aid 
to high schools, and the aid in maintaining ninth and tenth 
grades depend essentially on the assessed valuations in the 
various districts. In all four cases there is an implied uni- 
formity in assessed valuations that does not exist. To the 
extent that there are variations in the ratios of assessed 
valuation to true value, distribution on the basis of assessed 
valuation must result in inequalities. Another factor in the 
problem is the extent to which certain types of property 
=scape assessment. For example, it has been shown previously 
+hat in a number of counties a large proportion of the motor 
vehicles escaped assessment in 1927 for taxes of 1928. If in 
one county 50%, of the motor vehicles are assessed, while in 
another 909, are assessed, it would naturally follow that cer- 
rain school districts mightreceive state aid towhich they were 
not entitled. The two factors, differences in assessment ratios 
and property escaping taxation, are highly important in con- 
nection with any system under which funds are distributed 
to localities on the basis of assessed valuation. This method 
of distribution places a premium upon low assessed valua- 
tions, and the latter are not always indicative of a real lack of 
ability to support education. 
There are other factors that are important in connection 
with the distribution of aid to rural schools. If the valuation 
in a district shows a tendency to increase to an amount above 
$75,000, it is to the interest of the district to keep the valua- 
tion below that limit. An even more important factor is that 
many of the poor districts in the state are not eligible for rural 
school aid. The Attorney General has held that before a 
district is entitled to this form of aid it must maintain an