Americus times-recorder., 1923-06-15
DYKES SEEKING TO
CORRECT ERRONEOUS
IDEA AS TO SCHOOLS
Chairman of Board in Formal
Interview Says No Increased
Tax Necessary
TELLS OF CONFERENCES
Says Eight Mills for Schools
Means Only Different Distri-
button of Funds

W. w. Dykes, chairman of the
city school board here, today dis
cussed the difficult situation now
confronting the schools as a result
Of the inability of council and thc
board to agree upon a bill to be
passed by the legislature providing
for the imperative needs of the
schools here.
In discussing the needs of the
schools, Mr.. Dykes spoke freely
concerning the entire tangle, 60
ing into every angle Of the contro-
versy. He was especially desirous, he
said, to correct any erroneous i'm
preston the people OF Americus
may have gotten regarding the posi-
ton of the school board and the
effect levy of mills for school
purposes will have on the general
tax levy in Americus for all pur-
poses.
Speaking along this line Mr..
Dykes said:
"There seems to be an erroneous
impression in the minds of a few
people Of the city that to levy eight
mills for the schools would mean
an increase in taxation. Before the
matter came to the attention of the
public generally the Board of Edu-
cation conferred with members of
the City Council and especially with
the finance committee of the coun-
ell, and was advised that, after this
year the sinking fund levy could be
materially reduced as we would
have no more maturing bonds until
1927. In fact the board has been
in constant communication with
former councils in regard to this
matter and were asked to with
hold, if possible, any request for
additional funds until certain bonds
which had matured were paid, after
which the sinking fund levy could be
reduced, the school levy could be
increased and yet not increase the
total tax levy of the city. There
fore to provide eight mills for
schools does not mean any increase
in the total amount of taxes but sim
ply difference in the distribution
of the total. In fact, the city coun-
Gil could, if it did not want TO pay
off the floating Indebtedness as rap
idly as the present total levy might
provide, pay the schools eight mills
and still reduce taxes. This, howey-
er, would prolong the time for final
liquidation of the floating indebted
ness than would otherwise be neces-
sary.
Only One Criticism
"Since your publication of the
school salary list and other neces-
sary expenses to operate the schools
/ have beard only one criticism and
that is the verv small salaries we are
having to pay some of our teachers,
If the people who are opposing
the schools so strongly will make a
comparison of the salary lists, ] am
sure that they will withdraw fur
ther opposition and join with US To
build up the schools rather than
try to destroy them. We are opcrat-
ing at smaller expense per capita
than any school | now recall and
yet have been able to keep our
schools up to the high standard it
has long enjoyed, This cannot con-
tinue longer however. We now
have fifty-four teachers. Our white
school population has increased APP
proximately one hundred children
and negroes two hundred during the
last five years. We have no right
to ask teacher to take more chill
dren to teach than can be taught by
them, and the teacher has the right
to decline to do it.
Where Money Goes
"Out of our school fund we not
only have to pay teachers salaries,
we have to pay insurance on build
ings, all repairs on buildings, buy
coal and all school and building sup
plies and equipment. Our total eX-
penses for last year, exceeded
somewhat the total taxes received
from the city and state.
"Seven mills, the amount we now
receive, is S39, ,597.51; the state
school fund we received last year
was S9,400000; our pay roll for
next year including janitors, will
be S47,473.66; our expenses for
last year over and above the pay
roll, for fu6l, janitors' supplies,
school supplies, insurance premiums,
repairs, equipment, interest and ad-
ministrative expenses was $7,174.11
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