Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-12-12 | Page 13 | Skidmore Asks Higher School Levy in Report

SKIDMORE ASKS HIGHER SCHOOL LEVY IN REPORT Superintendent Says Present Tax Only of Amount Needed i Higher school taxes taxes' were 1 mended in the bIe biennial report of oi C C. C H. H Skidmore state superintendent superintendent-of of public instruction released Wednesday Wednes Wednes- day The document will be submitted submit submit- ted to Governor Henry H. H Blood Mr Skidmore e declared that the mill 2 levy for high schools provided by the con constitution is but a fraction of the amount amont needed He said the law Jaw should be more f forceful In requiring the state tax commission to levy taxes which will raise the full lull 25 per capita allotment allotment allot allot- ment for each ach school child and the the per capita amount allotted for school equalization A Asks ks Law The superintendent t od nt recommended recommended enactment 61 t. t a a. a statewide teacher re law Incidentally t the e report express expressed d the opinion that the mill mUl levy levy- for the general fund is b also too low low- At Its conclusion the report said laid that there should be additional tax laws to lo provide for more equitable distribution of th the tax burden and reduction of property tax taxes s. s In explaining his opinion on the tax setup the superintendent said that more is expected by the sta state e. e now than at th the time when tax provIsions provisions pro pro- pro 1 visions were written into the constitution constitution constitution and that the taxpayer t today day gets a bj bigger ger return than ever before in public service The report Is replete with suggestions suggestions recommendations and observations lions am among Dg them the following Urges Greater Control Control- 1 That lure should provide provide pro pro- provide vide more fully for tor control of the state school system by the te e board of education 2 That proceeds of rental and Interest interest interest in In- terest on state school land be more fully protected by giving the state school board a voice in handling the funds 3 That the constitutional 1 prohibition prohibition tion against the he consolidation of school districts be repealed and that the constitutional requirement in regard regard regard re re- re- re gard to text books b be eliminated together together to to- together gether with the statutory provision creating a text book commission which adopts texts for other than city school districts Branded Obstacles J The report described the latter as hindrances rather than aids to the state in efforts efforts- to outline uniform continuous courses courses of study It is provided by the constitution that neither the legislature nor nar the state school board shall have power to designate texts which must be used in the schools Mr Skidmore believes that this should be a attune attune- function function tion of the school board Inconsistencies in the laws governing governing govern govern- ing elementary and rind secondary schools also should be removed the report said There is little authority in present statutes for lor example for fr school transportation which has become become be be- come ome a major problem The r report port urged that the legislature legisla ture provide a penalty for school offic offic officers of of- fic rs' rs la failing ili g to make prompt accurate accurate accurate rate statements of public moneys bandied handled handled han ban died by them pointing out that making making making mak mak- ing of a profit on public money by public officers isa felony The superintendent indorsed the recommendation of ot the committee 0 o nine that the school system be taken out politics and that the superintendent superintendent superintendent be appointed rather thi th elected