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 uniformity
 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 cerrain
 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 connection
 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 valuations,
 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 valuation
 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