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Show Operating Costs Climb 153 In Utah Schools "Total operating costs of. Utah schools Increased from $86,210,256 to $217,872,477, or 153 in the 10 years since 1963," the Utah Taxpayers Association said today. "The costs do not include funds spent for capital outlay and debt service," the UTA NEWS noted. "Per capita operating costs in Beaver district were $925.59 compared with the state average of $756.77," said the NEWS. Jordan School District had the state's lowest per pupil costs with $681.22. Alpine District was next with $682.31. Daggett District had the highest cost $1,742.74. UTA claims that the teacher-pupil ratio is the most Important Im-portant item in determining school operating costs. When the ratio drops Just one point, it costs taxpayers an additional addi-tional $4.6 million. According Accord-ing to the Association, In the i past 10 years the ratio has dropped 11, from 26.4 to . 23.4. This cut in the teacher- -pupil ratio means that 1,415 1 more teachers are now being used to teach a similar number of pupils. The teacher -pupil ratio In Beaver was 19.8 compared com-pared to the state average of 23.4. Daggett District had the lowest ratio with 13.9 and Washington the highest with 26.2 followed by Cache with 26.1. . The UTA NEWS further noted that 1972-73 average contract salaries of classroom class-room teachers In Utah were $8,503, or $945 per month for time actually worked. Beaver average salary was $8,318. ' Association analysts said that fringe benefits - retirement retire-ment social security, and Insurance In-surance - cost taxpayers an. additional $28.4 million. This is equivalent to about $1,307 for every school employee. |