The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-02
LESLIE AGAINST
JONES-LINDLEY
SCHOOLS BILL
Proposal of His Own State
Commission Opposed
by Leslie.

Governor Harry g. Leslie will OPP
pose the recommendation of his
own state-aid commission and re-
fuse to advocate adoption of the
Jones-Lindley plan for school fnan-
cling in his message to the 1881 leg
islature, it was learned today.
The state-aid commissioners de-
cided 20 back the Jones-Lindley
plan, which provides for minimum
financing Of all public schools by the
state, at meeting at the state
house Monday.
They have proceeded to draft a
bill for presentation to the legisla-
fure, Incorporating the features of
Inc plan, and will meet with the
Governor next Monday to argue its
merits.
Unless Governor Leslie undergoeS
complete change Of heart. the
5cnes-Jindley plan will not be
nong the things incorporation as
commentators to the legislature
in his annual message.
Boosts School Tax Rate
That message will outline the
things I advocate" the Governor
explained. But measures to double
and triple the state tax rate can
not be considered"
That the Jones-LindIey plan
would do this is admitted by the
commission. While the present
state school levy is but 7 cents,
under the Jones-Lindley plan it
would be a minimum of 40 cents
and may reach as high as 70 cents.
Using 10 cents for the new school
levy and the present tax rate of
% cents, minus the 7-cent school
levy. it would mean tax rate for
the state Of 60 cents. With a To-
cent school rate it would mean 90
cents.
Well, What of 1t?
The state-aid commissioners. how
ever, advise that some substitute for
property tax be used to raise these
revenues and contend that it will
mean consequent reduction or total
abolition of local school levies.
When Chairman Arthur Sapp
Rep, Huntingdon of the state-aid
commission and Senator Alonzo H.
Lindley Rep., Kingman), commits
sioner and principal prepayment of
the plan, we're told that Governor
Leslie is apt to look with disfavor
upon it, their answer was:
We'll, what of it?"
Lindley had introduced a some
what similar bill during the closing
days Of the last legislative session
and will handle it early this time,
in hope Of passage.
Features of Bill
The bill will include the following
features:
Creation Of state aid review
board composed of the chief ex-
aminer of the state board of ac-
counts, chairman of the state tax
board and superintendent of public
instruction
Establishment OF teaching units
based upon average pupil-teacher
ratios in schools of various size.
Payment by the state of $500 an
nually to each elementary teaching
unit and $1,O4O to each high school
teaching unit.
Payment by the state OF one-half
of all approved transportation in
rural school units.
Communities wanting more than
the minimum may impose local
school levies to increase revenues.
Study Tax Problem
That the entire state levy may be
lifted from the property tax dupli-
cate is the goal being attempted by
another Leslie commission on taxa
ton problems.
Chairman J. Clyde Hoffman of
this commission announced today
the draft of final plans is under
way, conferences are scheduled with
various advocates of different
methods Wednesday and they ex-
pect to be through by Dec. 10.
An income or sales tax, or more
than likely both, will be recon-
mended.
Meanwhile, warning that at least
100000 must be cut from the
general fund budget to keep the
present state levy of % cents was
sounded in a report to the budget
committee made by Lawrence F.
Orr, Chief examiner of the state
board of accounts, on behalf of
Governor Leslie.