Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-03
|Virginians Ask
For Sales Tax
TO Aid Schools
Educators PurIey
Wants Federal Aid
Plan Reopproised

ginia at this time can maintain
an adequate public school sys-
tenn without additional Federal
aid. the Virginia Conference on
Education says.
However, a substantial ma
jority sentiment Of the confer
ence was "that a sales tax levied
by the State is the only recourse
adequate to raise the needed
sums"
On the question of Federal aid,
the three-day conference of $50
delegates from rs Statewide
groups concluded yesterday that
there should be a reapportion-
ment Of available tax revenue
between the Federal Govern
ment and the States $50 that the
States may more easily and ade-
quately meet their educational
responsibilities"
Reappraise Federal Aid
"In particular" the conference
reported. "the general program
of federal grants-in-aid to the
States on a matching basis for
hospital and highways, for ex-
ample, should be carefully reap
praised since its probable ten
dency and result are to divert
State money from the support of
education.
Reports from the closing Ses-
sion will be passed along to the
White House Conference in No
vember.
On the question of how to A.
nance public schools. the confer
ence found that although the
State and the localities are ba-
sically able to support a proper
educational system, "unrealistic
assessment practices in the local
tiles prevent full realization of
the local tax potential"
"A survey of current local as
sessment practices to see that all
communities bear their fair
share is definitely Indicated" the
report declared.
Sales Tax Suggested
At the same time, the confer
ence said that money needed now
and in the future for schools
cannot be found from present
revenue sources. A majority
suggested the sales tax as the
only adequate resource.
On the problem of how the
State and the localities should
share total costs of education,
the conference recommended
that method of distributing State
funds should be revised. "aim-
ing at a greater fairness and
at simplication of the present
complex situation"
Among specific proposals was
one that the localities be as
signed primary responsibility for
construction and maintenance of
the school plant. to the State
primary responsibility for in
struction, with transportation
being a joint demand on both. Z"
The conference saw one form
Of Federal aid as "just and prop
er"-defense areas where Fed
eral operations create additional
local burdens and withdraw real
estate from local taxation.
But even in those situations,
the conference emphasized, all
Federal funds for education
should be channeled through the
State Office of education.
On the question of school
building needs. the conference
asked for an increase in the Lit
erary Fund of the State from
which localities can Borrow to
build schools.
Mot enough is being done soon
enough on the local level" the
report declared. AN informative
of school building needs
should be made available to citi-
zens at the community level"
On how to organize schools
more efficiently and economi-
cally." the conference recon-
mended, where wise, the con-
tinued consolidation of schools.
2. Double shifts be eliminated.