New Britain herald., 1928-11-17
COST OF EDUCATION


 One New Britain speaker stated the other day that the cost of edu- cation is high. Fifty cents out of every dollar in tax money in this city, he said, goes for the mainte- nance of the schools. Since then an- other has said 39 cents out of every dollar goes for the schools.
 We'll, what of it? What does it prove? If anything. it indicates that the school system has been measure ably developed to point somewhere in the vicinity of the requirements of the city; and that some other public functions have not been developed to this point. When they are, they too will cost more, and at such time the schools will not require as large percentage of the sum total of ex- pendttures.
 It is a matter of relativity. If the city has been extraordinarily eco- nomical m providing some services such as water disposal. sewer dis posal. garbage disposal-it means that small percentage of the total money goes for these services.
 New schools were built because they were necessary, could not be longer delayed: and the end is not yet. We have more and better trained teachers, a higher adminis- trative expense that goes with larger school plant. The cost today is pretty we'll fixed, and is proportion ately higher than it will be when the bonds are paid off.
 If the state law had specified that the city simply had to meet all requirements as to water. sewers. garbage and what not, as is specified in connection with the schools, then the total of such expenditures would be much higher and the schools would not exact as high q percentage of all the expenditures. It is quite simple; school costs, proportionate- ly to other civic costs. look high be- cause the other municipal costs have been comparatively low. Whether New Britain can continue to keep these other costs low is doubtful: already the water department is planning to expend more than $1,- 100000. After that money is spent. and should the school costs remain fairly stationary. the school per- csntsge will automatically drop. . The tax rate in New Britain has been low compared with most other cities in Connecticut. The schools cost their present ratio of the tax money because of this fact. It is to be hoped that the tax rate can con- tinue to be kept low compared with other cities.
 Suppose, through the exercise of some species of legerdemain, the tax income should be greatly reduc- ed. The school costs then might reach a much higher percentage of the city's income-yet the total out go for schools would be the same
 If. however. the cost of increased municipal services is greatly increas- cd-which seems likely within the next five years-the percentage of school outlay to the whole can be ex- pected to decrease, although actually the cost may stand still or increase slightly.
 We mention these facts in order to combat the idea. current in some circles. that local education costs are inordinately high. Considering them on a percentage basis they may look that way, but too much depends upon the total of other costs to war rant one in coming 10 a superficial conclusion.
 The percentage of school costs in New York State to all other state costs is, if we remember rightly. 34 per cent. This looks lower than in New Britain, but in reality the sum expended for schools in New York has risen seven-fold during the past decade. The reason the percentage in New York seems lower than in New Britain is because New York has made other enormous outlays, which have more than kept pace with the increased school expenditures. In New Britain. and many another city in Connecticut, this has not been the case. We had to keep pace with the demands for school accommodations but we could afford to lag a bit in providing other public services. The