Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-03-25
State Bonds For
Consolidated Schools

The proposition to include IN the
bond issue for education a fund that
the State Department of Education
can for aid in new buildings, repairs
and equipment of consolidated
schools, is not novel one or an un-
tried one. The majority of the states
have been using such fund for
years. In the last four years Ala
bama has paid out more than 81 1000
900 in this way. California has psent
500, O00, 900 bond issue in loans to
schools and buildings for higher edu-
cation. Minnesota spent from $780,
900 too 100000 in the last four
wears in special aid. The state can
pay up to 40 per cent but not to ex-
coed $4,000 of the cost OF construct
ing each school building in CONSOLE
dated districts. North Carolina
loaned 81 100000 in 1922 and got
four percent interest on ten-year
basis The legislature voted another
bond issue of $5,000,000 that year
and since then two other bond issues
of S5,OOO,OO0 have been authorized
making a total Of SIS, 100000 that
has been loaned to counties. The IN
terest and one-tenth Of the principal
amounts to over $4,000 available
for re-loan each year, or for sinking
fund. North Dakota in 1922 aided
1927 consolidated schools with nearly
100000; South Dokato spent nearly
100000 to aid consolidated and ru-
raj schools and teachers cottages.
Tennessee has contributed nearly ST.
OOO,O for this purpose. Texas has
set aside $1,500,000 aid for each OF
four years, beginning with 1922. The
aid amounts to $1,000 ii the enroll
ment is over 500 and the school is d.
Gated on five acres of ground. n IS
consin has aided over 800 schools in
this way, and thus we might go
through the states.
Georgia for forty years has had no
building fund, but has permitted
county boards to take maintenance
money that belonged to the ,~-.~ Is
and pupils and use it for ald ----,.~
ing rural school houses. IL nn.s.., ~
said with truth that teachers had
part in the cost of erecting every
school house that the county boards
have helped. Often the school term
has been cut and thus the pupils have
contributed. In these states we have
mentioned. under the budget system
of state approved expenditures, not a
dollar of the maintenance fund can
be applied for buliling purposes 1t
is TO pay the teachers and to run the
school for seven to nine months.
ANYONE conversant with conditions in
Georgia's rural areas could name
scores of instances where county and
state funds have been used for other
than maintenance purposes. A re-
vo]vine fund or direct help for aid IN
erecting consolidated school build
ings. eouipping and repairing such
bindings and teachers cottages |
woul enable the State Department to
properly locate. plan and equip these
buildings. We might start with 81
OOO. 900. IF the demand increased
and counties found that they could
pet money at a cheaper rate through
the stpte. the loan might be increased
as in the case of North Carolina. Mo- ,
body expects the state to go into the
business of erecting school houses IN
anv county. That ie a local pronosi-
ton. but they should have state
fund specifically for this purpose and
that is why it has been included in the
bond issue,