The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-26
Barnwell Leads With an Expen-
diture of $39.05 for Each
White Child.
CHARLESTON is SECOND.
PiCkens, Lexington, Oconee anu
Horny Spend Less Than SO,
Says Report.

47th annual report of the state super
intendent of education to be submit
ted to the general assembly in Jan
uary will show the expenditure per
pupil in the various counties. Since
South Carolina collects no state tax
for schools, this comparison em-
phasizes the weakness of the county
as a school tax unit, and discloses
wide disparities among the forty-four
counties.
The three mill constitutional tax is
levied on all the property OF the state.
This fact explains in a measure the
widespread misconception that this
levy is in reality state tax. In every
county. the proceeds of the three-miu
tax are retained and disbursed with
i'm county lines. Not one dollar col
lected from this tax ever comes to the
state treasury. Since the counties
differ widely in property values, In
fax assessment, in corporation
wealth. in area and in population, the
amount collected from the three-mill
tax varies accordingly. The Consti-
tuition of 1895 restricts the disburse-
ment of the proceeds OF this tax
among the schools so as to further
accentuate these county disparities In
educational expenditures.
In rich counties, the three-mill tax
raises the bulk Of the school fund. In
the poorer counties, collesctions from
the three-mill tax are now largely
supplied by local levies in the various
school districts.
LOCAL TAXATION ESSENTIAL.
During the session 1914-15, twen-
ty-nine counties raised more by local
taxation than by the three-mill con-
stitutional tax. For the state as
whole, special school district leVies
yielded nearly 100000 more for cur
rent expenses than was raised by the
three-mill tax. In spite of last years
depression, 23S districts either in
creased their school tax or voted on
such levy in order to make needed
improvements. This widespread
growth in public school sentiment and
public school support is clearly seen
In the gradual increase Of public
school funds from year to year.
In the amount spent per pupil,
Barnwell leads with $39.05 for each
white child. Since this record was
held by Barnwell for 1894, Su-
perintendent II. ]. Crouch and his
co-oworkers are helping to establish
e>new standard for the state. Char
lesion ranks second with $30.95, and
Darlington third with $30.0S. This
fine showing for Darlington is due to
the fact that every district now levies
and collects a local tax. The show
ing for Dorchester and Dillon coun-
ties also ranks them higher than
many of their wealthy neighbors, be-
cause every district in these two cum
ties has voted a school tax. One OF
the most gratifying features of the
progress of last year was the success
Of superintendent F.. A. Rouse OF
Chesterfield, in securing a local tax in
every districtin his county. Chester
field thus becomes the fourth county
In the state to vote uniformly and
universally for r'better schools and in
creased school taxation.
SsCOUNTIEs ABOVE AVERAGE.
in twenty-four counties, the per
capita expenditure per pupil Awas
above the state average OF $16.22
This is due to the heavy predomi
nance Of white population in man!
sections. In only four counties wa
the expenditure per pupil below 81
Pickens. Lexington, Oconee ant
Horny. Educational enthusiasm Il
rapidly spreading in these four coun
ties, giving promise of marked i'm
provement in the next twelve months
Itis interesting to note that In eacl
OF, them the white enrolment ex
ceeds 5000 and that tax valuation
lo&.
gFor AnegroA schools, Charlestol
leads with an nexpenditure of $7.1A
seiuda stands 44th. spending 81. o,
Cor each negro plpil
ssThes inagro ayera sc for, thes stat
WAS $1.s3; though sixteen countie
,F9se Colds Of NauiSind Cured nv. Pine