The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-01-11

| levels, 1t has become increasingly evl
dent that the foundation program
formula adopted for financing Mon
tana's schools in 1949 no longer full
fills its original purpose. There exists
today wide. variation of mill levy
effort for basic foundation program
financing.
You have received copies of the
report submitted by the Governor S
School Foundation Study Committee.
This report represents two years of
voluntary effort by dedicated group
of SO Montana educators and laymen
who represent every section of the
state. For the many hours they have
spent studying, discussing and re-
searching every phase of the founda-
ton program, they are entitled to our
highest commentator
| hope that you will give serious
consideration to the proposals set
forth in the committees report and
that you will accept it's major recon-
mendations.
These recommendation will per-
nit Montana to accomplish the fol-
lowing:
1. Eliminate school district def
cheney levies.
2. Adopt a uniform basic support
level for educational finance as it
relates to property taxation.
3. Assure school districts of budg-
citing authority of approximately
0f ~.
eral fund budget.
A. Assure school districts of a fl
nancing framework which will guar
Sntee that funds will be available for |
his level of budget authority.
y SYSTEM, ONE OF OUR
GREATEST ASSETS"
Our higher educational facilities
which make up the University system
# Montana are among the states
greatest assets. Our university units
'rovide outstanding opportunities for
'oung people of talent to secure the
'asic knowledge and skills for pro-
luctive work and leadership in our
ociety. In addition, they afford many
for service TO agricul-
ural, business a d professional
roups throughout the state.
Many people expect these institrl-
ions, as responsible agencies, to be-
ONE ever more important to the
tate and the nation. The recognized
oal for higher education in Montana
top quality performance in all pro-
rams at all units.
To this end, we have encouraged i
lie Regents and the university adj /
during the past two
ears, to study carefully the present c
I'D future roles of each university
nit. n
The goal of this Master Plan Study
that of making certain that each o
,llar spent for higher education con-
ibutes fully ito the objective of quail t
Y and that waste and unnecessary a
lplication are avoided. I'll
The end desired is the finest sys- B
m of higher education possible o
thin the limitation of our resources. R
During this same period, the in L
buttons, in cooperation with the d.
ldget Director, have developed and in
PRODUCED a new uniform budgeting st
d accounting system which will
Ike an evaluation of education pro- R
ANS and dollars spent much easier al
determine. NJ
[ am recommending a consider M
lie increase in the ALLEGATION of BIZ
nds for higher education in keep flo
. with the states improved finan- oh
i situation. I am pleased to report in
vt this operational budget has the
prevail of the Regents and each of he
Institutional executives. We are s,b
reed that it will go far toward i'm b1,
wing the relative position of our r,
titutions i'm comparison to other
ools of like character. an
Much of the increase is allotted tn
faculty salaries to bring them into NJ,
ter competitive relationship with iii.
sc in similar institutions of the 70,
a. mo-
Some additions ITO staff also are wa,
vided, together with upward adj
tments in operational funds. D.,
vhis budget proposal, if approved, ~
give each of our institutions an r.
III