Arizona republican., 1915-12-14
TAXATION NO. 2
The Cos, of Public Schools

More of the money raised in Arz,n by taxation spent the schools than any purpose. of the counties the expenditure for school purpose almost equals that for all other purposes and in many of the school districts the school pendiures exceed the aggregate of all other expendi- The in the state this year, including all except certain municipal taxes $6Os191935 There will be apportioned of this school pur- poses A 1-1O per cent $2,674,93O21 In addition this there is given for educational purposes by direct appropriation to the normal schools the university various activities $1.O57,- S13.25 Of this sum- $36,OOo. appropriated tional training in the high will be returned the counties. But with the expendi- lures for state schools have nothing do this time We considering only the public schools
 This county. though not the heaviest taxpaying county in the state spends more for schools than any other The taxes of Mariccpa county this year amount to $1,13O,194.44 Of this sS9G52942 goes to the state. The county's apportionment for the school fund will be $315,197.5O But some of the districts, dozen of them will need addi- tional money for maintenance so estimates of the superintendent include special district amounting to $52OOO The special levy for this Phoenix district is $1932O In addition the money apportioned to the general school fund have the so-caled school tax, amounting this year to about $12OOO
 We have alluded to bonded debts of the school districts for and redemp- ton there other additional of taxation For instance, in this high district there is a rate of IS for maintenance; .O21z interest and 021a for bond redemption. For Phoenix District No. there is a of .10la bono interest We have already spoken of the special levy for main tenance.
 We thus that spending educa- tional purposes amount that would consider appalling if it spent for any other purpose. 
 tions sacrifice with which would sacriIege to nterfere would be sacrlege suggest restric- tions or to make inquiry concerning the fund. Though it is equal to the aggregate of nearly all ether funds, t is the that is carefully safeguarded. We dc not say that it is subject graft but it is certainly subject to waste
 Even now, frightfuy high repellent as our taxes are and when casting ways and means Of reducing them. good citizen would suggest their reduction at the expense of the efficiency of schools. There must be no loss there But it is asked whether schools may not he rendered efficient by reforms which at the time will somewhat relieve the overburdened taxpayer Cur schools are too loosely conducted under the law. Men experience in such matters and no capacity for handling them, often in control of them is true that the public schools nominaIly under the direction of county superintendent, under the law his influence is rather advisory than other
 
 and under the present loose arrangement the in centive is rather to get rid of the money appor- toned to district, than to conserve it.
 In the past much money wasted by school trustees in buying useless supplies from piraticaI supply houses. The Republican began calling at tention to this abuse three years ago. County Su- perintendent Higgins has corrected to large extent in this county by arrangement between himself and boards of trustees for the intelligent purchase in bulk from reputable houses of needed school supplies. But this arrangement which he could not enforce; he~ could effect only by persuasion. We should Phoenix district under the administration of Superintendent Loper has not been victim of the rapacity supply houses. Here fird a standardization of authority, getting away system In the employment of teachers find greater need for intelligent expert centralized authority
 There is great duplicate system of administration. In almost every 1000 habitants in this state there is a high school Whether or not many needed is questionable In this county there half dozen either in operation provided for. The high school is under administration the grade schools under another with only understanding and no definite relation between them. Ne thus. sets Of rnachiery. both of which expensive of of which could be dispensed with the interest both economy and efficiency.
 There is also the matter of consolidation of