The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-12-15
Local Business Men Discuss
System of Economy at
Board Meeting
WOULD DECREASE RATE
OF SCHOOL TAXATION
Suggestions Made e ncernins
Expenditure of BE- Issue
Voted Last Spr.

Economy in Bemidji publ = hool
affairs to keep down the gradu in
creasing rate of taxation was tn. & is
of discussion at the meeting O. =
board of education last evening,
lowing the close of the routine b,
ness session. A number of local bus
ness men from a taxpayers stand
point formed delegation and appear
ed before the board to present their
views on the management of school
affairs in the city A committee of
three representing the Bemidji Civic
and Commerce association was also
present.
Attorney E. E. Mcdonald present.
ed his views on the construction pro-
gram intended to relieve the shortage
of rooms and facilities in the schools,
and suggested a plan of constructing
an addition to the present high school
building, extending west from the
southwest corner of the Building to
Irvine avenue and then north along
Irvine avenue to correspond with the
present building. This, he held, would
keep the Junior and Senior depart
ments together, tending, he said, to
encourage Junior department stu
dents to complete their course OF edu-
cation through the high school. A
separate building constructed on a
separate lot, he believed, would tend
to- discourage students to complete
their education. Financially, plan
similar. to this would. be much more
economical for the district and con-
sequently keep down the rate Of taxa
ton, he added.
J. P. Lair submitted figures COM
pairing the rates of taxation during
the past 10 years and showed that the
rate has increased in much larger pro-
portion than has the valuation of the
district, and this is due largely to the
school levy, since, of the total levy in
1920, the school levy formed better
than one-half. Presenting estimates
on what the levy would necessarily
be another year, if the present plans
of the district we're to be carried out
few a new high school building on a
separate lot, Mr.. Lair claimed that
the total levy would be increased
greatly and that the increase would
come as burden to taxpayers, dis
couraging the holding of property in
this city and also discouraging new
corners to the city. During 1920 the
total tax levy was 143 mills on val
uation of $2,161,688, compared to a
lew of ZIG mills the previous year
on valuation of $2,O17,OO2. In the
past ten years the school levy has in
creased from 1913 mills to TAT mills,
and the total levy from Sc mills to
143 mills. while the valuation has IN
creased from $1,S62,955 to $751;
6S8, Other comparative figures show
ed that the years levy would neces-
sarily be larger if system OF more
practical economy was not put IN
force
Others to speak before the board
were Earle A. Barker and "A. r.
Richie. The views of the others were
backed up by these men and the opln..
i'm was expressed that economy must
soon be used in the local school al
fairs. Holding that the cost OF mann
tanning the schools has Increased IN
nronortion excessive to the increase
in enrolment during the past te"
wears. methods we're presented where
bv the cost might be reduced conslo'
erably in another year. -,
Discussion was held concerning tne
addition of eleven teachers to the
faculty during the past two years, slS
this year and five the year rs1S ore,
and the opinion was expressed tha'
+his Number could be made less in an
other er year and not seriously impair
the standard of education maintain
ed here. +he
At the bond election last spring. the
district. or rather 243 persons IN the
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