The Holly chieftain., 1920-04-29
Statement Of Condition Of
COLLEGE Finances.
STATE BOARD HAS HAD
VERY TRYING CONDITIONS
Even Before the War Income Was
No Longer Sufficient for Actual
Needs-No Now Buildings Had
Been Ereetsd-Demands Increased

For the purpose of informing the
people of the state regarding the
financial condition of the Agricul-
tural College in connection with
the increase in salary provided for
at the meeting Saturday, April II.
the state board of agriculture has
prepared for publication an Off
cial statement Increases of Is to
30 per cent were made. The mem
bers of the executive committee
felt that the people, who as tax
payers provide the funds for the
maintenance of the college, were
entitled to this information. The
statement follows:
The state board of agriculture
has been facing an extremely try
ing condition during the past few
months. The work of the institu-
tions under it's control has grown
very rapidly during recent years
and although additional provision
for maintenance and building has
been made by the general assem-
bly, during that time, the income
has not been commensurate with
the increased demands and the
higher costs of operating.
Before the war the income of
the State Agricultural College, par
ticularly, was no longer sufficient
to meet the growing demands tup-
on the institution. For years there
had been practically no building on
the campus, and desperate means
had to be employed to take care
of the constantly growing student
group. Furthermore, the buildings
had been in service continuously
for great number of years and de
probation was large and upkeep
excessive.
Twentieth General Assem-.
bly, recognized this condition and
provided an increase in the mill
levy for maintenance and made
special appropriation for. building
repairs. The Twenty-First General
Assembly increased the levy for
maintenance and provided for
mill levy to extend over a period of
ten years and to be used exclusive
ly for buildings.
Then came the war. The State
Board of Agriculture promptly
placed the facilities of the institu.
tiOn, its technical staff, all of whom
volunteered for service, and all its
equipment at the disposal of the
governor of the state, under whose
direction an extensive program for
fOOd production, conservation and
marketing, special war training
work on the campus, which requir-
ed the erection of special build
ings, and general state service was
carried on.
The appropriations made by the
Twenty First General Assembly for
increase in maintenance, and the
funds accruing from the levy for
could not legally increase the tax
income beyond the five per cent
provided by law The institutions
under the control ,of the board
have, therefore, had to meet con-
dft1Ons with very nominal in
crease in incomes, not to exceed
five per cent.
maintenance costs have in
creased from twenty-five to several
hundred per cent. The cost of liv-
ing has increased constantly. The
board tried to meet the situation
in part by providing salary raise
for the current year ranging from
10 to 20 per cent, but these raises
have been inadequate to meet the
situation. In fact, taking into ac-
count the purchasing power of a
dollar at the present time, the in.