The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-09
THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

There appears to be every reason why
the residents OF the city should be gratiied
with the operation of the new school law
Under our former system the school houses
of the city, few, old and small as they
WERE amply accommodated the children
who sought instruction in the public
schools. With free schools, however, there
mas been a decided change. Now, even
with the accommodations of rented build
ings, the schools are overcrowded, as APP
pears by the report of the superintendent
TO the board of education, and there are at
least twenty-five per cent. more
children in the schools than there
are proper accommodations for. There are
also, no doubt, many children in attendance
upon UNCONVENTIONAL schools who will re-
turn to the public schools as soon as the lat
ter can afford better grade of instruction.
We understand that the board is now
wrestling with problem which must be
determined by them during the present
month. We refer to the levy of taxes for
school purposes. The board has power to
levy tax of 2 mills; at present assessed
valuation this will bring about 500, 900,
which added to the city's pro rata of the
territorial school fund, will give the board
about $50, 900 for the conduct of the
schools for the year beginning with the
collection of the taxes in the autumn
of 1891. For the current year the
boards only sources of income
are from the territorial tax and
from such special taxes levied in the old
lAa
just how much these will aggregate it is
impossible at present to say, possibly, how
ever, sufficient sum to pay the running
expenses of the schools but leaving no
margin for building. OF course the est
mated income from the assessment NAV be
increased or diminished by changes in the
assessed valuations on the next years
rolls.
The estimated expenses of the schools. at
the present rate. are about $4,000 per
year, to which, during the present year a,
least, must be added various debts of the
old districts, the duty of paying which has
fallen upon the board Of education
The question which, we understand. is
troubling the finance committee of the
board, is the vote to levy, whether they
shall recommend an assessment up to the
full limit of their power, two mills. OF
whether they shall scale it down one-halt
or full mill. There is a sentiment thai
the people have been pretty well taxed and
that the board cannot afford to antagonize
public feeling by levying full tax unles.
it is an absolute necessity. There is also 8
strong feeling in the board that the public
appreciates the fact that the increased de-
mand for accommodations and instruction
has begotten largely increased expenses
and that the necessity of providing for the
future creditable system of public school,
ample to the requirements of rap
idly growing city, will entail an ad
ditional outlay; and that, therefore
there will be no disposition to b,
niggardly or hypercritical over the actor
of the board. Some may and do question
the wisdom of increasing the taxes to sup
ply places for political creditors, to provid,
system of needless public works, and t,
assist generally in the extravagancies of al
extrayagant administration of municipal