The Penn's Grove record., 1907-03-01
MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS.
Necessary To Raise More For Cur
rent Expenses By Taxation.

| Necessary To Raise More For Cur
rem Expenses By Taxation.
Enouires received from teachers and
school officers indicate much misappre-
hepsiou as 70 the amount of State school
moneysss that will be surely available for
the ensuing school year.
The following State appropriations are
assured:
From the State school fund $500, 900. 90
From the State Treasury topay
25 per cent, of q mill tax, l,O79,5l9.42
80 per cent. of State School
tax, " 9l5, I0z.4o
10 per cent. of State School tax
to constitute reserve fund, 1923, 1888
Total 81, SIS, OF. 70
Amount received from the
same source for the current
school vear. 1872, 62S, IA
Increase solely due to the
larger amount of State rata
bles, 81, l45, 449.55
This increase will not be sufficient to
make adequate provision for the unusual
outlay that will be required for the ensu-
ing school year. Our rapid growth in
population, the general tendency toward
higher educational standards and the
greater demand for well-equipped teach
ers, together with the necessity OF increas-
ing their salaries, will make a material
and inevitable increase In :'curreut ex-
penses." Therefore, to proUade against IT,
nancial embarrassment and possible det'7men
TO oar schools, 1T miU be necessary for boards
of education and boards of school estimate to
assign the items of this gears budget a larger
total sam than wds appropriated one gear ago.
In addition to the State appropriations
whose availability is assured, the appor-
tionment sheets soon to be issued will
contain ali item from RAILROAD Tax for
each school district, representing its share
of the increase Of tax upon first class or
main stem railroad properties authorized
by Chapter 80, 2. L. 1906. Under the
provisions of Chapter 146, p. l.. 1906, the
State Comptroller is required to appor-
ton the said railroad tax among the
tW enty-one counties in accordance with
their respective ratables, and county sup
e~rintendents to sub-apportion it among
the school districts of their respective
counties, as provided in section 1872 of the
general school law.
Though the amount due from the said
increase III railroad tax has been appor-
toned among the several counties. and,
as provided by law, will sub-apportioned
among the school districts, it has not been
collected. As you are %undoubtly aware,
the allied railroads have paid the former
tax of one-half of one per cent. into the
State Treasury and propose to contests, ON
the ground of unconstitutionality, the
payment of all direct tax upon main stem
property. How long this will take and
the ultimate result are matters entirely
problematical. We believe, however.
that because of the said contest, the much
needed f%ruition Of the Acts of 1906 is al
most certain to be delayed.
At no time in the past have you per-
mitted any portion OF the support of your
schools to be precarious, and you are not
justified i'll taking risks now. Therefore
in making provision for the school year
OF 1906-l907, boards of education and
boards Of school estimate should not
take into account the amount apportioned
rom railroad tax. An apportionment
Vhose Catidity is contingent upon the outcome
Of a contest in the courts is not an appropria-
ton, and contracts for the ensuing gear can
not be made IN anticipation of funds tchose
arailablity is not assured.
1t is greatly to be regretted that many
who are regarded as worthy citizens and
as good friends of the schools either fail
to appreciate the magnitude of our school
system or are sadly %misinformed as to the
amount expected from the railroads.
Said amount when received, will not, as
shas been assel ted. be sufficient ''to wipe
out the district school tax" or "to pro-
vide boards of education with an embar-
rassment of school funds" These are
not simply harmless day dreams, but OBJ
structive and mischievous decisions.
Those who indulge them and give them
currency are doing much to create an IN
fortunate public sentiment, to stimulate
false hopes and to embarrass those in
trusted with the responsibilities of school
administration.
The following is a concrete illustration
of the possibilities of the railroad tax
based upon reliable data and upon the
supposition that, instead of being a pres
ent anticipation, the amount due from
this source had been available tor school
purposes during the last year for which
a report has been compiled.
School Year of 1906. 1906.
Receipts.
State Appropriations, So, 1O2, 293 81
Railroad Tax(?) $3.50, S67.35
District tax that would have