Show FES CON A ri a WO 2 tile the constitutional cons limitation of 0 state taxes is 5 mills ot of this amount the public school fund is limited to 24 mills some students of 0 the constitution believe that 24 mills is is in hi excess of oe the constitutional limitation because a greater percentage ot of bbate funds is now going to the public schools than under the former constitutional limitation ot of 8 mills under the 8 mill limitation 43 per cent was allotted to the public schools under the present limitation as per cent Is allotted to the public schools the legislature cannot provide additional state slate aid tor for schools under the hie present law daiv 2nd and the proposed constitutional amendment does docs not lot permit a change in ili the lie lcy for general state purposes nor tor for high school purposes but permits a levy tor for general school purposes which added to all other moneys 8 a ini lable lor for district school purposes equals 2500 per capita of 0 school pop bladon ul allon other moneys come irom from school lands and may come from erom an income tax tor for school purposes in ili the event ot of the passage of an all income tax an increase in ili the general property tax will not be necessary the constitutional amendment does not make the amount of levy mandatory but fixes it at any amount not to exceed 2500 per capita of school population ula tion the tax rate will still of 0 I 1 necessity be fixed by the legislature 3rd ard at present under the constitutional tut uto ional nal limitation about 1500 per capita is distributed each year to the I 1 school districts from state sources the amendment provides for an additional dit ional 1000 to be furnished by the state it if the state pays this additional dit ional money and the district does not spend it the local taxes can be I 1 reduced by this amount at present the school districts are able to raise money necessary tor for education up to 7 mills this amount is inadequate in practically all the districts in ili easel case no additional state slate aid is provided additional I 1 dit ional money must bo be r raised lacalli or the school program in ili these districts 01 suffer I 1 ath education is I 1 i matter oi of state concern the state law compels attendance from all children ot of the state up to eighteen years ot of age the state also requires certain qualifications ot of its teachers becore they may teach in a public school the state will not permit the local districts to set aside state requirements in education therefore it is both logical and right that the state should pro vide an adequate amount of money which added to money available from local sources will be sufficient clent to maintain state standards the last utah legislature enacted what is now known as educational program this program has resulted in a large increase of 0 attendance amounting last year to 40 per cent in the high schools of the state it has put additional 4 burdens upon every school district in the state of utah the success of this program will therefore depend upon the states assuming a larger part of the expense of education ath large business interests public utilities and large non noli residence taxpayers taxpayer s seldom object to the necessary taxes for education the right of private property to be secure is only possible when an all intelligent citizenship enship makes and enforces the law taxes raid paid tor for education should ic be consider eil sin ili rather than an expense A democracy is based upon education of all the people Q ath it if we assume that the money for this increased state aid tor for schools is to be raised by a general property tax is not reduced by the same amount in the local districts it will increase the tax tor for state purposes about a 2 mills on the dollar the taxable property of the average taxpayer in ili the state is not in ili excess of 2000 therefore assuming that the money Is to be raised by general property tax it will add to the average taxpayers taxes only per year this ad dit ional money would so increase school facilities and school opportunities as to permanently place utah in the front ranks ot of education in the I 1 united states no taxpayer if i lie understands the lie problem lull allow 1111 hiis small amount to lo stand in ili tile lie nay isay of proper education for his children ath this amendment is lu in keeping with the traditions and present developments of education as a state stale utah was one of the first states to consolidate sc school hool districts tor for the benefit of 0 all the children at present utah is consolidated into forty school districts the proposed constitutional amendment is one more step forward in that it ft means the state ate Is 14 to assume its proper 1 ability for tile the payment ot of teachers the average cost ot of education per child in utah Is about the state now proposes to pay one halt half this expense tor for all tile the children ir respective irrespective ot of location fth the business interests ot of salt lake city have recently conducted a get acquainted tour through the state for the purpose of 0 uniting the p people eople ol of the state in a program ot of statewide state wide development everywhere on oil this trip they preached the doctrine that county lines should bo be eliminated T the lie business interests realize that a prosperous 0 state means a arit prosperous city y and lid success to their business a and nd without prosperity in the state at largo they cannot succeed to th the extent they desire the same spirit should permeate education the success ot of education in utah Is directly related to the success ot of education in every distri district lt in the state here more than anywhere else should county lines be eliminated and the state w assume kunle responsibility of 0 proper educational cat ional opportunity for all its dill dren ath both political parties haie hai e this year declared in finor of a fair fail just and equitable income tax at the last session 0 of the legislature such a tax was passed by the lower house with only six opposing votes it tailed failed of passage in the senate tor for technical reasons it therefore seems assured that the incoming legislature will enact an income tax law for school purposes the people of 0 the ahe state may well instruct their legislators to provide the money authorized by this amendment by means of an all income tax loth both political parties haic am c endorsed tills amendment it vias nas also endorsed at 1200 meetings inee tings held during the he utah educational cat ional campaign at almost people were present bustness organizations of various kinds throughout the state have also endorsed this amendment it is 13 therefore in ili no sense political nor sectional in ili its nature but is intended tor for the better education tor for the boys and girls of 0 this state alth this amendment lias has tile the unanimous ali endor endorsement oi of tile he county districts and city superintendents of boards of education and of educators generally in ili utah there has been advanced no argument against the a by any taxpayer ot of the state although under the law this privilege is accorded in ili the official announcement and explanation of the amendment A brief argument in favor of this amendment by superintendent henry peterson of logan mill be distributed tri buted by the secretary of state to the taxpayers of utah nore more important than lian nil all these to tile hie loters of utah is the justice iu ill in ili this liis amendment it Is only just and fair that equal educational opportunities be provided tor for tile the chil di dien en of 0 the state irrespective of where they live the boy in the country is worth just as much to the state as the boy in the city and should be provided as nearly as possible with equal educational opportunities we have recently spent millions of dollars to help european children luring during the period ot of their great emergency we must be equally willing to expend a moderate amount toward the education and equalization of opportunity of the boys and girls of our own state lincoln sald said tell the people the truth and the country is sate safe in a government such as ours the perpetuation ot of government and free institutions will largely depend upon the education ot of masses education should therefore be the first concern of the state and the success ot of the schools must not be hampered it we would continue our free government |