Show School Funds To Increase Next Year State aid for Cor local school op- op operations operations will rise by an esti esti- estimated mated million during the coming biennium according to toan toan an anal analysis sis of oC 1967 school leg recently completed by Utah Foundation the private governmental research organ organ- organization organization THE STUDY shows that ap ap- ap approximately proximately million of oC the expected increase in school spending for Cor next biennium will result from Cram enrollment growth and other factors related to natural increase Approximately 76 million of oC the in in- in increase crease for Cor next biennium will result from the higher operating ing program authorized by the 1967 Legislature with the re re- re remaining 30 million represent represent- representing ing higher state contributions for retirement Foundation analysts point out that all of the Increase for the enlarged school program next biennium will be borne by the State No general Increase in local school taxes is ed UTAH'S SCHOOL operating program was raised by per distribution unit over the next two years ears A per unit in in- in increase crease was provided for 68 with another per unit increase scheduled for 1968 1965 69 Although the increase in school funds authorized this year was substantially greater than the amounts recommend recommend- recommended ed by tile the Governor the rise fell short of oC equaling the in in- in increases creases authorized in 1963 and 1965 According to the Found Found- Foundation study school funds were boosted by 1010 per distribution tion unit for the period with the increase for lor the 1965 67 biennium amounting to 1043 per unit per pel unit in 1965 66 plus an added per unit in THE UTAH Foundation an- an aly is shows that the level of school support in Utah has risen by an average of oC per pel unit or 39 per cent a year yeal since the school equalization program was first enacted twenty years ago Most 1 of oC this Increase has occurred during the past de- de de average annual increase in school funds has amounted to per unit or 63 per cent In the period the per or 01 14 per pel cent per year Dur Dur- Dur During ing the next two years the in in- in increase crease will average per pel distribution unit or 01 25 per cent centa a year In addition to the boost in school chool operating funds the study indicates that the 1967 Utah Legislature substantially liberalized the retirement pro glUm glans for school employees and I most other state slate and local em em- em employees Prior to the 1967 1907 changes maximum retirement benefits for Cor school employees In UGh were 20 per cent below those of oC other public employees I ITHE THE STUDY observes that the new school laws will ear ear- earmark earmark mark up to 20 per distribution unit or 01 approximately per year to assist the districts in developing salary different different- differentials for tho those e who qualify for Cor professional certificates issued by the state board of oC I Education As As- As Association tic lien n The Utah however recently re- re reaffirmed affirmed its opposition to the plan and called upon teachers to boycott the new professional proCessional certificates |