Milford chronicle., 1923-02-02
SAY TAXES WOULD Be
INCREASED IA TIMES
In Frederick And FELTON, Over The
Present Rate If Bill Now Before
Legislature Is Enacted.

Taxes in Frederick and FELTON, will
be increased IA times over the present
rate if the bill to repeal the present
school laws of Delaware, reverting
back to the old school system, intro
duced into the legislature by Repre-
sentative Jester Gray should be en-
acted. At The direction Of the State
Board of Education the conditions in
Frederick and FELTON, have been in
vestigated and no one has been found
aside from Mr.. Gray who is in favor
of raising the tax rate in these two
towns from 25 cents to $3.50 and up
wards.
"I have been bombarded by tele-
phone, by mail and in person by citi-
zens of Frederick" said Dr.. Thomas
R. Brown, President of the State
Board of Education this week, "whO
are afraid that the bill may be serious
ly considered by the legislature. Last
year the construction Of the Frederick
school cost $15,91O59. Under the old
school law, Frederick would receive
$3.50 aid from the State. This would
throw upon the community the respon-
sibility for raising $14,0S0.59. Basing
tax levy on the assessed valuation
of the Frederick district which is less
than 100000, the tax rate in Fred
erica would run up to $3.50. If the
high school is eliminated the tax rate
under Mr.. Gray's bill would amount to
$1.00 on the hundred. But Frederick
people want their high school.
"Mr. Gray also represents FELTON, as
well as Frederica," said DR.. Brown,
where conditions are about the same.
The school built at FELTON, last year
cost $16,500.26. Under Mr.. Gray's bill
the State would give FELTON, S2,068,
leaving a balance of $14, ,432.26 for the
citizens of FELTON, to pay. The ASSESS
ed valuation of FELTON, is about the
same as Frederick so that the tax on
FELTON, citizens would be increased to
$3.50 on the hundred. If the high
school was eliminated the tax rate |
would still be $1.50 on the hundred. |
Other towns in Delaware where new
school buildings have been erected |
would suffer a corresponding increase
in their tax rate if the present school
law is repealed and the old law put
in force again"
Speaking before the editors of Del
ware and Maryland at the annual
meeting of the Delmarvia and Mary
land Press Association, at the Hotel
DUPONT last Saturday, former Secre-
tary of State, James H. Hughes, of Do
yer, declared that if the legislature
found it necessary to materially re-
duce appropriations, that the appro-
priation for schools should be left
intact.
In referring to a discussion of the
school question by the members of
The Democratic steering committee at
Dover, Mr.. Hughes said, he told his
that Delaware citizens as
3 majority were in favor Of progress
ng along school matters.
"I have learned" said Mr.. Hughes,
that majority Of the people of Della
ware want to see progress made with
he schools. If it is necessary to cut
he appropriations somewhere, then
he cutting should be done on some
hing else than the school system. 1t
would not be right in my mind, to cut
he school appropriation now, and
hen later in the session make an ap- l
for some other organiza-
ion. If something has to be cut it
shouldn't be the schools"