The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-12-08

it shares in the total State income,
be ratably represented in the direct
tax levy"
Following the letter of the Presi-
dent of the State Board of Education,
a letter is printed below from the
Board of County Commissioners of
Garrett county to the President of
the State Board of Education in
which the Commissioners pledge their
support of all policies that shall
stand for the improvement of our
schools as we'll as for relieving the
financial stress incidental to financ-
ing a public school system through
direct taxation.
The letter from the President of
the State Board of Education to Gov
ernor Richie reads as follows:
Westminster, Nd, Nov. %, 1921.
Governor Albert C. Richie,
Annapolis, Maryland.
My dear GOVERNOR
At the time of discussion of the
school budget in your office last We'd
nesday, you stated that the money
raised by direct taxation is by law
dedicated first to the bonded debt
requirements of the State, and Sec
ondly, to the schools. The conversa-
ton then developed the fact that
public education is the only State ac-
tivity that is supported principally out
of the directly levied tax, and that
the institutions caring for the sick,
the INDECENT, the criminal, the insane,
agriculture, higher education, ETC., are
supported by funds raised by indi-
rect taxation. Later you asked me if
| thought that the public would stand
for ten-cent raise in the tax rate in
order to carry out the proposed pro-
gram of the State Board of Educa-
ton. The implication carried by this
question was, | take it, that the de-
mands of other State managed social
activities would so reduce the gen.
eral fund that the schools would be
obliged to go directly to the people
for additional money.
| have, since leaving your office,
| been considering the status of the
school budget under the existing
method of providing funds, and it
seems that the situation, which pos
sibly might embarrass the Execu-
tive, the Legislature, and the school
system, is substantially this:
Everything but bond and school re-
quirements is provided out of the
fund raised by indirect taxation. If
after everything else is provided for,
any money remains in the general
fund, that money goes to supplement
an amount raised by direct taxation
for the support of the schools.
The schools, then, are sustained
from two sources, both variable. The
first source, namely, the general fund,
contributes small proportion; and
the second source, namely, the direct
tax, large proportion. The first
source is not under the close scrutiny
of the taxpayers; the second, be-
cause it is on the tax bill, is under
critical scrutiny at all times, not
only of the taxpayers, but of the
politicians as well. As both sources
of income vary, and as the first is by
custom and law the one that supplies
the other social activities of the
State, it naturally follows that the
schools, by reason of being the resid-
uary legatee, so to speak, are forced
to levy taxes in direct proportion to
the degree of expansion that the ne
cessities of the other organizations
demand. When the schools, in order
to meet the demands of progress are
forced to fall back on funds derived
from direct taxes they are in posi-
ton to eattacked by the uniform
ed public as being extravagant, and
the sole cause of the increased tax
rate. The first source depends on
and varies in proportion to the needs
of other activities, the second depends
on and varies with the experience,
inclination and sense of expedfency
of those who decide what the rate is
to be at any particular time.
Now there are some features about
the school system of the State that
are, perhaps, occasionally lost sight
of, but which by reason of their i'm
portance must be recognized:
First, 1t is in direct touch with a
majority of the families of the State.
Second, 1t deals directly with about
quarter of a million of children and
is under the most critical scrutiny
of their parents.
Third, 1t is a means provided by a
democracy to produce and maintain
such a constantly rising level of in
telligence and information as will in
sure progressive improvement in
the general character of our national