The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1958-12-19
ENVISION STATE MEETING
FULL SHARE OF PROGRAM

Sen. Dave James (D-Liberty) in
reviewing the estimated cost of the
school foundation program, as pre-
pared by the office of the State Su.
perintendent, stated that the $7.3
million increase is based on the state
meeting its full SO per cent of the
cost of the program. This biennium
the state is falling short by 9 per
cent, or about five million dollars. In
addition, the estimate takes into con-
sideration increasing enrollments an
ticipated during the next biennium,
but does not include possible legisla-
tive changes in the foundation pro-
gram. However, said James, four of
the five sessions since program was
instituted have had changes made,
which although Every moderate" have
increased the total cost to the state.
James also said when the pro-
gram was first started it met 81
per cent of public school costs. In
spite of upward revisions, it is only
meeting II per cent of school costs
today, thus requiring even larger
special levies on property in the
various school districts.
Stating he thought the estimate of
the State Superintendent was very
accurate, he pointed out that one we'll
known watchdog" committee 1--WE
presume, Montana Taxpayers Asso-
ciation) concurred in that opinion.
COLLEGE ENROLMENT
SOARING
Enrolment at the six units of the
University System is expected to in
crease an average of LOTS each year
the next two bienniums, Erwin Hintz-
peter, Bozeman businessman and man
ager of the recently successful cam
paign to renew the six-mill univer-
sity levy, told the more than $50
people at the conference.
On that basis alone, he said, "as-
Stunning present costs per student re-
$1,000, per annum, an additional ST.
100000 annually will be needed for
this increased enrolment factor
alone"
However, he doesn't anticipate
student costs remaining constant, |
pointing out that since 1916 the
dollar has lost 36 per cent of it's
purchasing power, or three per cent |
If this situation continues
at the same rate over the next two |
years, he said, "the annualized rate
of lost purchasing power for the COM
ing biennium will be A u per cent"
This means, he pointed out, that |
Montana units, in order to get and |
keep professional personnel must be |
able to pay more nearly the salary
schedules of neighboring and nearby
states. (The weighted average shows
salaries at MISC and MSU to be 8.3
per cent less than at institutions in
these adjacent states.)
Also, with rapidly increasing en-
rollments, greater capital outlay
is necessary to provide college ia
cilities, and that these, he believes
should be paid for by all the people
of the state. students should pay
for field houses" he contended,
''but, classrooms are an obligation
of the taxpayers"
In connection with this item, he
gave figures showing that of $24 mil
ion worth of capital improvements
at the various units since 1913, 1892
million came from student feets, fed
eral grants, etc., and only $7.8 mil
ion came out of tax funds.
IN BAD SHAPE
Rep. Lloyd Barnard (D-Valley)
md a member Of the Montana Legis-
ative Council, cited facts and figures
IN the budget requests of the ten
,ustodial institutions, pointing out
hat in total, these institutions need
n excess of 1872 million additional
for the next biennium
IS compared with the present one in
,rder to function in face of higher
.osts. increasing numbers of inmates,
tic. In addition. all of the institu-
ions except the TB sanitarium at
Talen and the Training School at
Boulder are badly in need of repairs
md new capital improvements, which
would cost between $2.5 and $50 for
he biennium.
Biggest single capital item to be
gotten underway. according to