Smyrna times., 1950-06-29
SCHOOL ISSUE
REFERENDUMS
To Hold Election on Friday,
July Z to Decide on
Bond Issue
TWO REFERENDUMS


of the Smyrna Special School Dis
trict will be asked to vote for or
against two referendums, the first
being to determine whether the
Smyrna Special School District
Board of Education shall have the
authority to issue bonds in the
amount of $240,000 for the con-
struction of an elementary school
and such alterations of the present
school facilities to provide for an
increased school program. On Sep
tember z, 1949, the Board of Edu-
cation and Supt. George w. Wright
presented the need for building ex-
pansion in the local district to the
State School Building Program
Board composed of Gov. E. N. Car
vel, Secretary of State Harris B.
Mcdowell, and DR.. James Beebe,
president of the State Board of
Education. This Board registered
unanimous approval of the need
for an additional building in this
area, and the 1949 session of the
State Legislature appropriated
$4,000 to the District for this
purpose. However, this money
must be matched with a minimum
of 100000 local money before July
1, 1851, if the state appropriation
is to be valid. The local Board Of
Education has set $240,000 as the
fund necessary in addition to the
state monies to erect 12-room
elementary building with cafetor-
ium, make alterations to the pres
ent building including a principals
Office and guidance counsellor's
office as well as equip classrooms
for art and agricultural courses,
and to erect bleachers and light the
athletic field for night contests.
The present school tax in the
Smyrna Special School District is
six cents on the hundred dollars
assessed valuation and one dollar
capitation tax. Should the referen-
dunn be passed the rate would be
changed to not more than 80 cents
hundred and the same capitation
tax. 1t is believed by the Board
that the tax rate would be some
what lower than 80 cents.
Second Referendum
The second issue to be voted upon
is to determine whether an addi-
tional tax may be levied for the
purpose of school maintenance and
operating expenses. The State has
declared that it will not allow the
District any additional expense
monies and in order to support and
maintain an additional building
the funds must be raised in the
Smyrna Special School District
This referendum calls for a maxi
mum tax rate of ten cents on the
hundred dollars assessed valuation
and one dollar capitaion tax. Thus
if the two referendums are approv-
ed the total local tax rate would
not exceed 40 cents on the hundred
dollars and two dollars capitation
This compares favorably with othel
districts throughout the STATE
which have rates as follows: New
Castle. 33 cents; Ceasar Rodney
20 cents plus 81 capitation; A. I
DUPONT, 25 cents; Harrington, Al
cents plus So; Dover % cents plu
So; Seaford, "a cents plus 81; Re
hoboth, As cents; Mt. Pleasant, 81
cents; Lewes, 40 cents; Claymont
43 cents; Laurel, 20 cents plus So
Newark, 33 cents plus 50; Milford
81 cents plus So; and Georgetown
which has no building program,
cents plus 81 capitation, which j
similar to the present Smyrna tai
rate.
New Taxes Effective 1851
The present school bonds in tn
district outstanding total $3.50
which will be retired in December
1850. The new tax rate would no
be effective until July, 1851, a
which time the District would hav
no outstanding debts except tina
l incurred by the passage of tn
referendums.