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Show Wednesday, September 7, 1994 Page 3 Nephi, Utah tElfc Utah Foundation reports Church Mews. . . School funding goes along way Utahs basic state supported Sanpete School District a ratio than 12 to 1. Such large in equalizing school funding differences make it impossible school program goes along way of more among 40 School districts which for poorer school districts (those differ substantially in size, with a small properly tax base) wealth, and needs, concludes to fund education on an equal Utah Foundation in their latest footing with wealthy school disreport. The purpose of the report, tricts (those with a large propUtah s Public School Finances, erty tax base), states the report. 1992-9according to Utah Foun- As a result, the state established dation director, Michael Christ- minimum standards for Utahs ensen, is to explain public school public schools. This minimum The standard is called the basic finance to the single largest expenditure of school program. state and local tax revenue in Operating funds for the basic Utah is for public education, yet program are allocated by what is very few Utahns understand how called the weighted pupil unit school finances work, he said. or WPU. A WPU is a student The report explains where pub- count plus extra WPUs for small lic school revenues come from, schools, professional training, where they go and how the state disabled pupils and other special attempts to partially equalize features. The special WPUs are funding among its 40 school dis- particularly helpful to small, rutricts. ral school districts. The inRegarding equalization the re- -' creased level of funding is needed port states, Utah has long rec- to offset the higher administraognized that a public education tive and other overhead costs system financed primarily by lo- small districts have relative to cal property taxes would be their enrollments. Because ofthe grossly unfair, since there is special WPU allocations, the togreat variance among school dis- tal number of WPUs is about d tricts in the amount and value of larger than the numtaxable property. In fact, as- ber of students. Each year the sessed valuation of property per legislature establishes the level student in school year 1992-9- 3 of funding that it will guarantee (the school year data used for the for each WPU thereby equalizing report) ranged from a high of revenue for the basic school pro$700,549 in Millard School Dis- gram. trict to a low of $55,441 in South According to the Foundation Regional Conference will be held this weekend Payson Utah Regional Conference will be held September Saturday and Sunday. The Nephi Utah and Nephi Utah North Stakes will both be participating in the conference. They will meet with members and friends of the Payson Utah, Payson Utah East, Payson Utah South, Payson Utah West and Santaquin Utah LDS Stakes for the regional conference. ' A priesthood session will be held at 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Payson Utah South Stake Center, 711 South 600 East, Payson. Those invited to attend are: stake presidencies, high councilors, patriarchs, stake mission presi-- . dencies, bishoprics, High Priest ; group leadership, Elders Quorum presidencies, ward mission 10-1- 1, Training session tonight at Stake House 3, leaders, stake and ward executive secretaries and clerks; stake and ward Young Men presidencies, Aaronic priesthood advisors. The general session will be held Sunday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the BYU Marriott Center, Provo. All members and friends of the seven stakes are invited to attend the general session. non-expe- rt. All young women in Nephi Utah Stake invited to participate in volleyball games All Young Women of the Nephi Utah Stake are invited to participate in stake volleyball games to be held on Wednesday evenings from September 7th to October 5th. The games will be held at the Orgill LDS Ball Park, weather permitting. If the weather is bad, the games will be held at the Nephi Utah Stake Center in the On Wednesday, September 7th, gym. one-thir- report, The law requires a prescribed uniform statewide levy on all taxable property. In districts where the levy fails to produce sufficient money to finance the basic program, the difference is provide by the state, through the uniform school fund (funded mainly by the individual income tax). In wealthy school districts where the prescribed property tax raises more than necessary to fund the basic program, the law requires that the excess be turned over to the state and used in helping other districts. The report points out that only three districts (Millard, Park City, and South Summit) raised enough revenue to have some recaptured by the state. The amount these districts sent to the state was only $3.9 million or less than 1 percent of school revenues. The heart of the equal-- . ization program is the state aid, not the money recaptured from the affluent districts. Without state involvement.in school funding primarily through the state individual income tax, many Utah school districts simply could not provide an adequate public education system, states Christensen. The report points out, however, that despite this large effort by the state to equalize school funding for the basic program, disparities in expenditures per student still exist for two reasons. First, the basic school program does provide additional hinds per student for the small, rural districts. In addition, school expen ditures per student are naturally going to be higher in districts with fewer students. School district fixed costs simply cannot be spread over as many students in a small district as they can in a large district. Second, not all school programs are equalized by the state just the basic program. These other programs, financed largely by local property taxes, generate more revenue per student in wealthier districts, thus allowing them to spend more per student than can less wealthy districts with the same property tax rate. For example, of the top 13 districts in the state in per student expenditures, all are either small rural districts like Daggett, Rich, Tintic and Piute or are districts with large property tax bases like Millard, Emery, South Summit and Park City. These districts have per student expenditures ranging from about $9,000 to $5,000. But these districts only educate about 4 percent of the states school children. The rest of the states school districts (37) educate the remaining 96 percent of our school children and their per student expenditures range is much narrower from about $3,300 to $4,600. The report concludes, Hie legislature is often criticized for not helping rural Utah receive more of Utahs wealth. The states basic school program is one example of a significant shift of state resources (mainly from the individual income tax of the uniform school fund) to many rural areas. v Each ward will need to bring a referee for their game. The schedule is as follows: Sept. 7, 6:30 p.m., Levan vs 1st; 7:30 p.m., 2nd vs. 6th; Bye, 7th; Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m., Levan vs. 2nd; 7:30 p.m., 6th vs. 7th; Bye, 1st; Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m., 6th vs. Levan; 7:30 p.m., 1st vs. 7th; Bye, 2nd; Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m., 7th vs Levan; 7:30 p.m., 1st vs 2nd; Bye, 6th; Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m., 2nd vs 7th; 7:30 p.m., 6th vs 1st, Bye, Levan. there. will be a stake auxiliary training session for members of the Nephi Utah Stake. Those invited to attend are: members of the stake presidency, the High Council, the stake executive secretary, bishoprics, ward executive secretaries, stake and ward auxiliary officers (not teachers), stake and ward music chairmen, church magazine representatives, and activity . Arthritis Foundation volunteers will be raising money Local Arthritis Foundation vo- lunteers are calling on their neighbors to help raise money during the annual From Our Home To Yours campaign, a nationwide effort to raise funds for arthritis programs and research. Every dollar we raise in the hext few "weeks Is important, aid Arthritis Foundation Chairman of the Board, George Benton. The programs we sponsor help people with arthritis live With less pain and reduce Chances of disability. Funds from this years campaign will help us build better programs. .. j. In the past few years, researchers have made great strides in discovering treatments and potential cures. Much of the pain and disability can be prevented or. delayed with early diagnosis. Many people do not realize that arthritis can strike people of any age, including children, said Denton. Many ofthem may accurate diagnot even have-anosis of their condition. The Arthritis Foundation recommends people pay attention to warning signs, such as pain, swelling and 3 stiffness.. By taking action now, you can help ensure a brighter future for yourself, Denton said. Contributing to the From Our Home To Yours campaign can help arthritis patients greatly. For a free Basic Facts brochure and additional information, contact the Arthritis Foundation, Utah chapter at or toll free at Sister Cathy Bills returns from mission Sister Cathy Bills has completed her mission to the West Virginia Charleston Mission. Her homecoming will be September Uth at 1:00 p.m. in the Mt. View . Ward, 5180 West 4700 Sodth,. West Valley City. . . ; . ' . Disabled Veu representative will be in Nephi 'During the month of Septem- ber,, 1904, those seeking assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issues may visit with Mr. F. E. Martinez from the Disabled AmericanVeterans. Assistance includes requests for compensation, pension, medical treatment, VA home loan defaults, and education. Mr. will also assist any vetHi! My Martinez )NE YEAR OLD widow of a veteran in or eran tame is Kayden Bryan. I turned answering correspondence or ne on August 19, 1994. I completing forms from the my first birthday with my erans Administration. ; iroud parents, Craig and DAV representative will in The lachelle Bryan, and my grand12th, at Job parents, Dennis and Linda Nephi, September to 10:00 a.m. from Service 9;00 iteele, and Larry and Gloria ' a.m. Iryan, all of Nephi. cel-brat- ed Showyour school spirit You knowyour alma mater holdsa medal place in your heart when even times are worth the remembering. At Bank One, we know thatyourcollegeyearsareapartof your identity and fond memories. It's part of life you'll never forget And now its easier than ever to show your school pride. 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