The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-09-23
Why the Hurry To Spend University
Millage Funds?

Millage Funds?
Why necessary that money authorized new
construction of the university system by people
spent Immediately? Did not the people, in obi
eating themselves pay additional leves period
of years and did not the legislature nder Chapter 49, section
laws of 1949 grant the board of examiners
latitude in STIMULATING that that board should
Judgment and discretion to the best interests of the state
going the carrying the peoples mandate
this issue Is not reasonable Interpretation of this
1949 law that the board its discretion authorize
part the construction program at any time during the
years. there nothing compelling board
to act hastily considering phase of the building
Last week this editor in discussing the controversial al
location mage university units went
length discussing the dangers of
university system which period of drouh or depres
sion might find the people of the state hard adequately
maintain either the currcuas the physical plants of the
system.
issue of The Voice printed newspaper &C
counts estimate that Montana State University Missoua will
an enrolment of approximately 5000 This represents
drop for the 9495O school year of than students
compared with the 1948-49 While reports
readily at estimated enrolment at the five other units
reasonable in view of economic cond
that these institutions also enrolment drops
this next year With gradually worsenng economic conditions
throughout the nation further fair assumption that
ceedng will additional enrolment declines Such
prospects lend an considerations
of expansion
Also it should be borne in mind that this s5ooooOo uni
versy program be paid for by the people
period of the next 20 years.
it at ali possible (and there is considerable grounds
for feeling that it is possbe that of this huge
program foregone the present. delay
should be given weghy consideration by the board of
amners Building costs TODAY are the highest in the nation
history but like all other items economy such
bound economy recedes
postwar infationary high.
If this construction ahead with will
that Montana people will receive expanded university
the of what Ascent dollars will purchase
But because the mage debt against future taxpayng
ability will likely be paying it off with considerably
valuable dollars AS with the individual who mortgages his
future periods of initiation and then must off with
sderaby dollars the result only hard
Ship comparatively little value for the money expended
in such period of initiation
Further under the legislative act empowering the board of
examiners spend this money Chapter 49, section l. laws of
1949) there stipulation making mandatory that this
money be expended all at time The act does limit
pendures the acquisition of land for structures the
construction of such buildings and the equippng of
Although all of the bonds have been sod it not mandatory
that the board of examiners Immediately let contracts for
I'm connection should be noted the board
sold all the bonds at because of the favorable interest
rates that could be secured by such block sale)
In of conditions and the likely economic de-
cline that the nation will experience within the next few
doesn't that the board should hold off contract
lettings at this time? Wouldn't be much in the in
taxpayers only contracts let at
this time for the most needed buildings at the several uns
Would not such of action this not only the
receiving considerably for it's but also tend
cushion future unemployment in the building trades with
resultant essenng of financial hardship for Montana labor
and business?