The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-11
SCHOOLS FACE
SHORTER Term
AND PAY CUTS
Refusal to Drop Sinking
Fund Item Threatens
Teachers Wage.
TAX BOARD HEARS PLEA
Wilson Agrees to Submit
Budget to Meet Rate
of 81 Cents.

Reduction of local public school
terms to eight months, and further
slices in the pay of 1000 teachers
loomed today, as the result of a
hearing before the state tax board
on the school city tax rate appeal.
Announcing that school board
members will not violate the law
by cutting the 5 per cent rate re-
CURED for the sinking fund, Presi-
dent Russell Wilson of the board
agreed to submit a budget with re-
auctions suggested to meet the o.
cent rate.
This rate was ordered by the
county tax adjustment board, after
school authorities had compiled a
budget based on rate of $1087,
which they declared was the low
est figure for financing the regular
ten months of the school year.
Cuts Must be Made
The 92-cent budget must cut the
school year, make further reduc-
lions in teachers salaries, or both.
unless the sinking fund appropria-
tions are reduced.
Superintendent Paul c. Stetson
said it appeared that the school
year must be cut, perhaps to eight
school months. The board adjourned
to study the matter and A. B. Good
business manager of schools, will
submit the new budget to the state
board.
The adjustment board suggested
that the 92-cent rate be met by
slicing $250,000 from teachers sala-
ries and $535,000 from the sinking
fund.
A tax board order cutting the
sinking fund appropriation last year
was reversed in court.
Not Opposed by Miesse
The 92-cent rate is not opposed
either by Harry Miesse, manager of
the Indiana Taxpayers Association,
or William H. Book of the Cham
Der of Commerce. These groups
brought the appeal to have state
approval of the rate, it was ex-
planned.
When the new budget is submit
ted, the tax commissioners can &C
cept the shorter school year or again
order a sinking fund reduction, it
was pointed out.
The three commissioners conduct
ing the hearing expressed different
views on the matter
Chairman James E. Showalter's
plan was carried out, which is to
submit a budget based on the o.
cent rate, rather than the $1.087
budget which was before them to-
day.
Can't Increase Rate
Philip Zoercher wanted to approve
the 92-cent rate and let the school
authorities revise operations to adj
just the situation. He pointed out
that the state board only can APP
prove or reduce the rates and is
not empowered to make increases.
Pliny Wolfard, board member, said
he believed the state board should
make the cuts to meet the rate.
County and civil city budgets
were reviewed throughout Thursday,
with but little accomplished.
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan de-
Tended the city budget Thursday
afternoon.
He declared that his administra-
ton had cut $1,000000 from city
operating expense and that the SIPS
rate is the minimum whereby gov
ernmental services can be carried
on.
Points Out New Services
To the charge that his budget
total was but $4,000 below that of
1927, the mayor pointed out that
many new services now are being
carried on. Among those listed we're
the police radio, municipal airport
and new tive-story unit at city
hospital.
Budget critics attacked several
points, but the state tax commits
Sioners' reaction seemed to favor
the city. This was noticeable when
further pay cuts for f1remen and
policemen were suggested.
Other items for further reduction
suggested were child hygiene, child
health and the park budget. 1t was
suggested that parks might be
closed for two years.
Answers Objections
Sullivan made a plea for reten-
ton of all such services on the
grounds that now more than at any
time in the city's history are such
services needed.
You property owners should be
glad the parks are open to divert at
tention of the unemployed from
their plight" he told DIRECTORS. 1T
means insurance against violence
and perhaps is saving your property
from vandalism.
These things are the most mex
penSive insurance that you pur-
chase"