The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-09-03
Fees Same as Last Year and No Increase Is Contem-
 plated by Board
EXPENSES CUT IN
 MANY DEPARTMENTS
Every Economy Possible Has Been Inaugurated, But Incidental
 Fee Is Necessary to Run the Schools

The school children of Birmingham will not have to pay an incpeased in- cidental fee for the first half of the coming scholastic year. This was de- cided upon yesterday by the board of education which met in the office of Commissioner Ward at noon.
 The same plan will be adopted for the first half of the school term that was in vogue last year. An incidental fee of 25 cents per month will be charged for all children in the gram man grades. A fee of 50 cents per month will be charged for high school children.
 The board of education has made ev- cry effort during the past few weeks to eliminate the necessity of any inci- dental fee, but after every other means was exhausted they were compelled to resort to the charging of fee to main- tain the schools.
 At the conclusion of the first half of the school term the board of educa- tion will take up the matter of raising funds again. Just what will be done then Is not known, although it Is thought possible the incidental fee will necessarily have to be raised.
 The funds of the city are so low that the board of education can expect lit tie relief from this source. Figuring on a $100,000,000 tax assessment next year at a 1O-mill rate, will net the city S1, 900 900. Half of this amount goes to the interest sinking fund under the recent decision in the Mcdonald suit. This money cannot be used for any other purpose under the law. This Will leave a total of s500,000 to run the city. which includes the schools, fire department, police department, health department, street and sanitary depart ment and all other branches or the city government More than 90 per cent of this amount must be set aside by the city for the retirement and interest or the outstanding Steiner bonds' when leaves a total of approximately $l0,000 for use by the city. This amount will be supplemented by license, street tax and other methods.
 ECONOMY PRACTICED
 Every economy possible has been in augurated by the board of education to cut down expenses. Only one doc tor is employed for the entire school system. The operating force, which in cludes clerical help and other over head expenses has been min1mlzed 10 the lowest degree. This term the teach CTS will have to pay for the supernum- eraries. This is accomplsneu py the teachers paying for sup stitute in the event they cannot attend their classes. There will pc no kindergarten this year. No school books of any character will be furnished Tree.
 In view of the facts cited above one can readily see that the problem or running the schools for the coming scholastic year is grave one TOT the hoard of education to cope with
 The incidental fee netted the city ap- proximately $50,000 last year With a decrease in the school census It IS doubtfu1 whether or not this amount will be derived from the fees this year. The commissioners as well as all mem bers of the board of education were silent in regard tc the plans for the maintenance of schools after the frst term which ends the latter half or De- celliber.