Common Council of Lambertville v. State Board of Education

The opinion of the court was delivered by Swayze, J. We agree with the Supreme Court in the matters specifically decided by that court. We differ on one point which was probably overlooked because not emphasized in the brief, although raised in the reasons. The resolution submitted by the board of education to the board of estimate asked that $75,000 be appropriated “with which to purchase, or take and condemn the above mentioned tract of land, and for constructing thereon a new school building and furnishing same and for repairs to existing school buildings.” As pointed out by the state board of education in its decision, the School law makes a distinction between the appropriation for current expenses and for repairing and furnishing the schools, which is to be made under section 74, and the appropriation of money for the ptirchase ¡of lands for [197] school purposes or for erecting, enlarging, repairing or furnishing a school house or school houses, which is to be made under section 76. Under section 74 an itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary mnst be delivered to each member of the board of estimate. Under section 76 the statement is not specifically required to bo itemized. Repairs are provided for in both sections, bnt it is evident that the legislature contemplated a distinction between repairs tinder section 74 and repairs nnder section 76. A sensible distinction is that nnder the former only ordinary current repairs are meant, such as would naturally form part of the current expenses of the schools; nnder the latter are meant those more important repairs which may properly be likened to the enlarging of a school house. The maxim iwsciiur a sodis is applicable. The repairs for which the present appropriation is sought are undoubtedly of the character of current expenses, since they are repairs to existing school buildings *md it is not shown that any but ordinary necessary repairs are contemplated. The amount asked therefor should have been separately stated. Moreover, although section 76 does not in terms require an .itemized statement, it requires the board of education to deliver to each member of the board of estimate a statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for the purpose or purposes. The obvious intent was to enable the board of estimate to act intelligently in fixing and determining the amount necessary for such purpose or purposes. It would be quite impossible for the board of estimate to act intelligently upon a certificate which included in a lump sum the amount necessary for purchase of land and erecting a new school house, and the amount necessary for repairs to existing school houses. An appropriation made in that way would put it in the power of the board of education to expend the whole appropriation for repairs. Eor these reasons we think the judgment should bo reversed and a judgment entered in the Supreme Court setting aside the proceedings, with costs. [198] For affirmance—None. For reversal—The Chancellor, Ci-iiee Justice, Garrison, Swatize, Trenohard, Parker, Bergen, Kalisch, Black, Bogert, Vredenburgh, White, Terhune, HepPENHEIMER, WILLIAMS, JJ. 15.