The Penn's Grove record., 1923-11-23
Concerning The New
School Proposition
A Citizen Explains The Tax In
crease And Possible Results
If Proposition Fails

| have been asked by several citi-
zens to give some why's and where
flores in connection with the proposed
new school. In response to these re-
quests, it might be said that for the
past seven years, the need for addi-
tional facilities has been apparent to
all who have looked into the matter to
any degree, and a decision would have
been reached a year or so ago, were
it not for the fact that the Parochial
school by being instituted relieved the
situation.
The Board Of Education is composed
of nine members, and eight out of
those nine, by resolution adopted, de-
cided to present to the legal voters
the proposition of voting on a
S95, 900 building. They, every mem
Der, realize the necessity for more
quarters and by thus presenting the
matter to the voters, relieve them
selves of any criticism either of
omission or commission of duty, when
they have fulfilled their part of the
procedure in placing the matter in
the voters hands.
The State authorities have commu-
lllCdItu Will lIC WIlJCI iltlC AIN dSoAil
relative to the ~congested condition
and he has replied stating that steps
would be taken to remedy affairs
as soon as it was determined that the
population was settled and that the
borough could adapt itself to the task.
The County Superintendent has also
mentioned the same thing, ami per-
sonally told me that it is with diff
Guilty he has kept the state from TAX
ing the matter into their w hands.
1t must be remembered, that when
schools are not functioning according
to state requirements, the Commits
sioner of Education has the power to
withhold state aid and the aid we are
receiving from them this year is over
$4,000.
The school at present is using -four
underground basement rooms which
were never intended for class rooms,
contrary to law and a menace to
health. 1t became necessary to re-
move a teacher who taught in n of
these lower rooms to a on an
upper floor because her health would
not permit teaching underground.
Much could be said along this line if
it were necessary. The room at pres
ent used as the typewriting room is
not a class room at all; it is the
Boards office and is 75% too small
for pupil accommodation. There are
two rooms over in the Poland building
which is another unnecessary expense
and inconvenience. There are at least
six or seven rooms in use now that are
over crowded from a to Is scholars
per room. The school law provides
for about 40 to a room. So you see
there are at this very moment enough
scholars to fill eight rooms in a new
school.
The state officials in their argu-
ment, reasons thus: If your borough
being as hard pushed for taxes as you
say, can afford to have a $4,000 bond
issue for streets, a 100000 issue for
CITY hall, a $4,000 issue for fire
equipment and $4,000 for another
street bond issue, it certainly ought
to be able to afford provisions for the
most important thing of all, /. e.
EDUCATION and l can give them no
I argument in return.
Everybody in the community with
possibly sever or eight exceptions
agree that a new school must be built,
but how can we afford it? Getting
down to brass tacks and to the finan-
cial end of it, the following is what
the people want to know-"How much
would the taxes be increased by hav-
ing a new school which would cost
1916, 900 or less, which would include
every item of expense as well as lane
and furnishings?
The net valuation of taxable prop
erty at present is $2,465, 5O4. The
amount of expense the borough has to
meet during 1923 is $100,346. The
present rate of tax therefore is S4.O7
per hundred dollar valuation.
Under the proposed bond issue, the
figures would be as follows. Net val
uation of taxable property would be
the same, that is $2,465, 504. Amount
of expense to be met in 1924, caused
bv this issue would be $6,275, and this
added to the expense already known
of $500, 346. would be $780, 21, and a
new rate, therefore, would be S4.o2
per hundred dollar valuation. (Note)
have not taken into account the
decrease in fixed charges because
of the redemption of several thousand
dollar outstanding bonds. This should
lower the new rate say possibly ten
cents a hundred.
Now, if a new school it NOT built,
and the state withdraws its financial
support of $10,161, which is received
each year., and which it has a right
to do because their requirements
are not being met (for sever years
they have threatened to do this) we
would have the following items OF eX-
pense to meet which would have to be
raised by local taxation
Loss of state financial aid
as noted above --..---S lO,lol.oo
Sending our own 149 Penns
Grove High School schol-
ars to a district where
there is a high school
which the awwouldcom-
pei doing-at $4,000 per
scholar, less $25 per
scholar the state would
paS 5,215.00