El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-29
Amended City Charter Needed
To Provide Funds Necessary
For Schools, Says Supt. Hughey

THE needs Of the city schools and
what has been accomplished dur
ing the last school year. from
April to April. are set forth in re-
port issued Monday by superintendent
Of the city schools A H HugheY.
In making commentators for
next year the superintendent states
that a 20 or Is percent increase in
teachers salaries must be guaranteed
soon II the city is TO get good and ef-
fcient teachers by next fall. suffi-
cient 70 take care Of all the children
in the city schools.
His report also recommends more
teachers 10 take care OF the ever IN
creasinE enrolment, and more equip
ment which is needed now. and which
VIII be needed still more by the next
school term
Amended Charter Is Remedy
The way TO get more school funds.
as suggested by Mr.. Hughey, is for
the citizenship OF FL Paso 10 vote TO
amend the city charter so as TO give
the city council power TO apportion
more than 50 cents OF the city tax
rate for the city schools. From the
tax rate Of s1.96 the schools get so
cents. At least IS cents is needed II
salaries are raised TO where they
should be by next year, it is esti-
mated.
There are two funds in the city
school system, the maintenance and
the building fund Mr.. Hughey in his
report explains these funds and tells
how each is derived
The maintenance fund is derived
from taxation" the report states.
The maintenance fund may be used
for any legitimate school purpose. in
GLIDING constructing buildings. etc
The building fund can be used only
for constructing buildings. buying
ground for building sites, and such
purposes.
The taxation for the maintenance
fund is'about two-thirds derived from
the city school tax. about one fourth
from the state appropriation. and the
small remainder from miscellaneous
sources.
Higher Limit Needed
The city school tax is this year 50
cents per 800 on valuation OF about
S63,500, 600. This is the limit Of the
school tax rate The voters must ap-
prove Of a higher limit. When a
higher limit is approved. the school
board, with the city council, viii fix
the rate 10 levy IN the summer or fall
considering the valuations as assessed
and the funds necessary TO be raised.
The state appropriation is derived
from the state tax, but II Is not ap-
portioned 10 school systems or locali- I
ties according to property valuations
or the population. but according TO
a census Of school children between .
the ages OF seven and Il. who are in
a school district during March OF each /
year, when this school census IS I
taken This appropriation has been
$3.50 per child. or very near that. for !
several years There is a possibility !
that this $3.50 per capita may be in /
creased a little next year from the I
surplus left in the free text book fund I.
after the books are paid for.
we expect TO receive about $780, !
600 IN the. maintenance fund this
year for operating the schools. Eighty I
seven percent OF this amount goes FOR /
salaries or wages, and IS percent for I
supplies, coal equipment, repairs. in 4
surance, etc Salaries in school work Z
have been inadequate everywhere. AMI
increase Of approximately 20 percent ]
TO 25 percent for next year is con- /
templated as absolutely necessary. A