The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-04-02
Explains Why
Schools Need
More Money
Board Asks For An
Additional $1,000 For
General Maintenance
WILL REQUIRE 5 MILLS
ADDED TO PRESENT 10

'
Beside voting for two directors
of the Libby district on Saturday
the patrons will be asked to vote on
a five mill levy for the budget year
1942-43. To express an opinion on
this measure the voter should I
weigh carefully some of the con-
siderations involved. What is the /
purpose of such levy? In con-
versation with representative I
business man he said, when | vote
for millage want to know what it F
is for
First, the trustees operate on a
budget fixed by the commissioners t
in August, which limits their ex-
penditures to certain set amounts /
which cannot be exceeded. The
county superintendent, the commits /
sioners, Representatives of the Great {
Northern Railway and other bust
ness interests as we'll as the public
all sit in on this budget meeting.
The amount which an independent
district like Libby can levy for
school purposes is limited by law to
10 mills, above this vote of the
people is necessary. To this is add
ed portion of the county levy of 6
mills and part Of the high school
levy Of II mills. A regular interest
and sinking fund to retire bonds is
also fixed by law. Last spring the
local district voted favorably on an
additional 3 mill levy. The latter,
however, was not used, as a refer
fer chs
district No cost the taxpayer
1248 mills ct was 1915 in 1940)
Why was the 3 mill levy not used2
The new transportation law gave
the commissioners authority to levy
a county wide tax for transporta-
ton At the time it appeared that
this would be sufficient to finance
Libby's transportation expenses.
And the local levy was voluntarily
cut accordingly to l2.48 mills. How
ever, this county levy has not been
sufficient to carry the expenses of
operating buses and other trans
portation costs and the district is
now paying such costs from funds
allocated for repair and general
upkeep.
The lighting in old Central has
long been considered inadequate
and a modern system Of fluorescent
lighting was installed at a cost of
$4,000. This proved such an i'm
proyement from the standpoint of
pupil efficiency that similar sys-
tenn was put in the high school
study hall at cost Of $4,000 Pu-
pills benefited SO materially from
these two installations that the
move was generally commended by
parents. But this, too, was financed
at the expense of funds set aside
for other repair and general upkeep
SO that the district now finds itself
facing the question of cutting repair
and maintenance or asking for suf-
ficient funds for each purpose.
Second the wage question affects
directly the supply and quality OF
teachers. Much confusion results
from the question Of teacher
wages, Below is given the sched-
ule for l941-42 While yearly sal
aries are for months they must
be considered in most cases as on
l2-month basis since teachers are
required to spend reasonable
amount of the three summer
months in preparation for their
work. Divide the annual salary by
IL and a fair picture Of their month
ly earning is gained. To secure
competent teachers for the Libby
schools means competition with in
dustry which is now taking up ev-
cry person with secretarial or vo-
cational training. To hold or replace
teachers who can give the service
this community demands means al
least a ten per cent increase in the
salary budget or $780, No bonuse:
have been paid teachers for tht
past year.
For these two reasons then, main
tenance of the school plant at ;
point that overcomes depreciation
and provides good housing and sec
ond, a competent staff Of teacher
for Libby youth the millage i
necessary. The district valuation i
S1.4000O0. A five-mill levy bring
a return of $1,000. 1t is therefore
question of what the communit.
wishes to maintain in the way o
schools with no part going for nev
construction or other than ordinar,
running expenses.
First, the wood bill is $4,000
year, school supplies and repair ma
terial have advanced The bulge
must include these advances Q
drastic cuts must be made in up
keep and salaries.
Reference to the March, 194l, is
sue of the Montana Taxpayer 9TH
latest statistics available) the av
erage cost of schooling pupil i
the state of Montana was S97.5
Libby operated over the same pt
riod for S63 per pupil. With s.
elementary pupils this means tn
local trustees expended $4,000 lie:
than the average for the grade
The state average for high scho,
over the same period was Sl16--tt
local $136 or $40 each for 200 pupi
or $4,000 more than the averag
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