Evening star., 1947-02-23
Assembly Seeks
15Mi|Iion Extra
ForEducation
Legislature Facing
Problem of Financing
Maryland Program
By the Associofed Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 22.-When
joint subcommittee of the Senate
and House of Delegates gets to work
next week on Maryland's education
program, it will face the problem
of raising $15,000,000 more in reve-
nue. than Gov. Lane has requested,
Secretary of State John B. Funk
said today that recommendation of
State educators would require
$6,000,000 more in 1948 and $9,000,-
900 in 1949.
The Governor asked that most
new revenue be raised through q
sales tax.
Mr.. Funk said if the legislators
want to improve educational service
by passing bills now virtually as
sured OF Senate approval, then pro-
posed revenues must be increased
or new sources found.
Higher Basic Pay Asked.
The educators recommend $400 a
year more than the Judge Joseph
SherboW Commission on Tax Dis
tribution for the basic teacher
salary. The commission recon-
ynended an increase of $500 from the
present $500 by means of an in
centive fund based on a scent real
estate tax increase. A bill to carry
out this recommendation now is
before House committee.
To raise the figure to $4,000 an
nually, with accompanying gradu-
ated raises, would cost the State
S8,812,20 in 1948 and 81 ,39O712 more
in 1949, Mr.. Funk said.
The educators also would increase
other basic aids to schools.
Mr.. Funk said the entire educa-
tors program, including the recon-
mendations of the Sherbow report,
would cost the State $16,254 $40 in
1948 and $19174,150 in 1949.
Support in Senate.
The educators have recommended
that the incentive fund for buildings
be increased at cost of $731 500 in
1948 and 81 ,463,0O5 in 1949.
In the Senate there is plenty of
support for the top recommendations
1t will be the task of the newly
named subcommittee to make up it's
mind whether the entire program is
to go through-along with neces-
Sary revenue raising measures-and
the entire Legislature eventually
will have to deal with the subcom-
mittee findings.
Broken down, the educational
problem has four main phases:
The amount of the minimum
teachers salary, the amount of basic
aid to schools, the size of classes,
and what building allowances shall
be made if the class size is reduced.
Public Hearings Tuesday.
The legislators who will deal with
these problems are: Senators Soth-
oron, Democrat, Of Prince Georges
County; Carter, Democrat, of Balti-
more; Kimble, Republican, of Ale
gany County; McAllister, Republi-
can, Of Dorchester County, and
Delegates Humphrey, Democrat, of
Prince Georges County; Ramsburg,
Republican, of Frederick County;
Mock, Democrat, of Wiconico
county; ana Robinson, Democrat,
of Baltimore
Public hearings on three bills af-
fecting Prince Georges County will
. be held by the county's delegation
Tuesday night at the State House.
At 7:30 o'clock the delegation will
hear citizens on House Bills 203 and
261. The former concerns assess
ment of costs of improvements at
street and public alley intersections.
House Bill 261 would change the
boundaries of certain election dis
trictS in Hyattsville.
At $50 o'clock the delegation will
consider the bill authorizing the
countys Board of Education to pro-
vide bus transportation for students
OF non-profit, denominational and
parochial schools.