The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-03-28


ed into consultation two score rep
resentative business men, tax pay
ers and fnanciers at the high
school building last evening and
sought their advice and counsel on
the following serious problems that
today confront the school city.
DEMANDS ON TAXPAYERS
/. The total number of pupils
attending the schools today is
s.s46 more than in 1912. The in
crease in that time has been from
3.193 to $3.50 or ia per cent.
,. The increase in attendance In
the high school in five Sears has
been 635 or 81 per cent. The pres
ent high school building, built at a
cost of s45o.ooooo, viii be f1lled %
its full capacity OF $500 students
next year.
3. A new school house must be
built on the North Side to replace
the Lincoln school that Will cost
$3.50. 10000.
4. An addition must be made to
the Columbia school
5. additional temporary fscili-
ties must be provided at kenwood'
haywood, West Park and : other
grade schools.
s. Changes improving the sani-
tary and lighting equipment of the
old buildings must be made al once.
HOW SHALL MONEY BE RAISED
The school city is within $780,
10000 of its limit OF bonding pow
er. The only other solution of the
financial problem is an increase IN
taxes. 1t was the consensus 81
opinion of those present last even
ing that recourse would have to be
had to both methods of raising the
money.
Now revenue from taxes depends
on the assessed valuation OF city
and the tax rate of the levy on that
valuation. According the following
figures are interesting:
Hammond: Assessed valuation
s61,50o. 600: school levy, 80; tax re-
ceipts, s55s.5oO; enrolment. $3.50 +;
cost per capita, grades S55.6s, high
school $3.50.
Gary: Assessed valuation. s146,-
600 900; school levy. 70; tax re-
cefpts. s1,109.6 500: enrolment, TO-
500: cost per capita, grades and
high school. s1s1.s5.
East Chicago: Assessed valuation,
ss4. 900 600: school levy. .e4; tax re
ceipts. $4,000; enrolment. o.5se'
cost per capita, grades S6O.i5 high
school s135.4e.
These figures show that wnl'e
Hammond's enrolment is great, its
assessed valuation IN proportion 70
it's population is relatively small
Then TO further compliate matters
the costs Of operating the schools
per capita mas increased from sfs.4S
In 1917 to S72.24 in 1921
These facts and figures were pre-
sented by l. L. Bomberger, presi-
dent Of the board in a. clear, COOL
dispasionate manner, illustrated by
graphs showing how the curve OF
enrolment was diverging.
SWANSON GIVES ILLUsTRATToN
Albert T. Swanson. president OF
the board of ublic works and pres
fdent of the American Trust & saV-
incs bank. gave an illustration OF
the Importance Of acquainting the
tax paying rublic with the reason
and necessity for higher taxes
He said a man came into the bank
to pay his taxes on small place ne
owned He said the taxes amount
ed to s2soo. They had been re-
Gently raised and he was complain
ing of the fact.
How many children have you ~
the schools, Swanson asked. Ine
tax payer replied that he had hve
children going 10 school. DO you
know that your five children cost
the city $4,000 a year for their
education said Swanson The tax
paver was surprised and went away
with better feeling about his
taxes.
Hsu, Fay As WE co