The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-29

city school system by the
adoption of a "pay-as-you-
go" plan for financing
$2,210,000 in building con-
struction.
Opponents of the "pay-as-you-
go" plan in the main are willing
to build the necessary structures,
but declare that now is not the
time for burdening taxpayers with
direct levies for school purposes.
TINE civic leaders, for the most
Il part, admit that overcrowding
is serious problem in Indian
apolis schools but some feel that
today-or even next years. not
the time to spend more money.
On the other side, those favor
ing the immediate use of direct
taxes to build new schools see it as
the only way out if the school sys-
tenn is to serve tie community,
adequately.
William A. Book, executive vice
president of the Indianapolis
Chamber of Commerce, said:
1.-THE reports of the building
committee of the school commits
sioners set forth one of the seri-
Gus problems confronting this
community. There will be general
agreement that Indianapolis
should continue as fully as it's
economic position will permit, to
improve and enlarge school facil-
tiles.
1--WE have had one or more ex-
periences of neglecting this prob
lem until necessity compelled &C
ton.
1.-THE crowding of so much
building into few years then
proved to be very COSTLY" he said
recalling the years of 1919-1920,
when $4,865 900 in bonds were
issued for school structures-a
debt-load which Indianapolis will
have to pay in 1939-4O.
"NNE of the most important
" issues, it seems to me-"
added Mr.. Book, sis that of OBJ
tanning a fair distribution of the
revenue which the state collects
for the primary purpose of re-
lieving local property taxation.
Our organization has repeatedly
shown that indianapolis and
many other municipalities in the
state have received much less
than a fair proportion of state
collected monies.
1--WE have reduced our govern
mental expenditures as much, or
more so, than the vast majority of
rural taxing areas; yet we have
not been able to accomplish the
property tax reduction these areas
have accomplished, because we
have not had a proportionate
share of the state-collected re-
venue.
What can be DONE" he con-
tinued, ito increase school rev.
enue for Indianapolis from this
source, possibly pretty largely
spells the answer to the present
school building problem.
ut will be possible" Mr.. Book
said, ito carry on some improve
ments through partial reliance
upon further bond issues and par
tial use of the direct property tax
rate. Yet, with the other needs to
be met, and the absorption of our
entire bonding power, it may not
be possible to go as far as school
officials reports first indicate.
Governmental students have
urged municipalities to rely less
on borrowed money and more on
current revenues for permanent
improvements. How far we can go
in meeting the needs of the school
system depends on our studying
the other problems outlined and
upon united effort on the part of
taxpayers and officials, alike, to
obtain equitable treatment in the
distribution of state collected rev.
enues, raised for the purpose of
spreading the tax bases"
MIR. BOOK is a former school
Iva business director and OBJ
servers see in his declaration for
a fairer distribution of taxes. a
possible drive by the Indianapolis
Chamber and other organizations
for a realignment of tax distri-
button through the introduction
of law at the special session of
the Legislature, expected next
month.
Commencing the "pay-as-you-
go" plan for payment of current
school needs. with direct tax levies
as a good thing" Paul C.
Wetter, Inc, said that "the plan
is commendable but the question
is. can the taxpayers carry the
additional load at this time. Our
backs are about broken now.
Thousands of homes were sold in
the past springs for taxes and
thousands more will be sold. Can
the taxpayer carry an additional
burden?"
George @. Bruce, president of
the North Side Federation of Civic
C1t1tNc T,,1