Show Utah Foundation Predicts School Enrollment Drop Public school enrollments may begin to decline next year yur This was predicted predict predict- cd ed by Utah Foundation the private nonprofit nonprofit non non- profit research organization In a study of the 1970 71 school finance program and the outlook for tor the future MAJOR REASON for tor the expected de cline dine next year car Is that reduced birth birthrates birthrates rates during the early and middle s sarc are arc beginning to be reflected In smaller enrollments In the true lower grades The Foundation report notes that total school enrollment during the current school year ear car Is up only 04 per cent over 1968 This Is less than one tenth the annual enrollment Increase of 4 48 8 per percent percent percent cent recorded ten years ago in GO Because of ot anticipated lower school attendance built built In in boosts in school costs during the next several years probably will be much less than the hugh Increases es cs alent prevalent during the late and early s ANOTHER POSSIBLE bonus that may be realized from the leveling off offIn offIn offin in public school enrollments during the next five years Is a reduced need for added school construction The Foundation Foundation tion lion study indicates that Utah school districts have expended more than million for capital outlay purposes since the end of World War II H. H Although there may be some casing easing in school finance pressures during the next few years Utah is facing in increased increased In in- creased problems In supplying the funds needed for higher education welfare and the host of other activities supported support support- cd ed by the state As a result Foundation tion analysts observe that this situation may suggest some reassessment of prior prior- lUes with respect to the large transfers transfers trans trans- fers that heretofore have been made from the general fund to the school fund The 1970 1910 budget session budget session of the Utah Legislature raised raised the general level of school support by per distribution unit for most school districts in the state For a few districts which do not receive state aid under the board leeway leeway lee Ice way program however the increase could amount to only per distri button unit next year ALTHOUGH THE increases for 1970 71 are somewhat less than the boosts provided for 1969 70 the Foundation study indicates that they arc are in line with the general upward trend of the past two decades In addition to increases in the general school operating program the 1970 Legislature Leg Leg- also so provided added funds for transportation and for categorical aid programs such as research and development deve deve- Increased funds for transportation transportation transportation tation Social Security and the categorical ical aid programs will average another per distribution unit next year ALTOGETHER THE new school finance finance fin fin- ance legislation will guarantee each district district dis dis- in Utah a a. a school program of ot at at least 10 per per distribution unit nit plus allowances averaging 1329 per distribution distribution distri distri- Unit for tor transportation Social Security retirement libraries summer ard and community programs and research and development The The F Foundation study points out that all of of the added funds for the new fin fm ance program will be provided for Increased increased In in- creased t state te aid and growth in the property tax base THE NEW program will furnish local school districts with an d 9 to 10 million in additional opera operating 11 ig funds |