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Show Utah Foundation Reports Possible School Operating Increase in Iron County Units Iron School District will be able to increase Its school operating program by $1,272 per distribution distribu-tion (classroom) unit next year under the new school finance program approved by the 1963 Utah Legislature. This represents an increase of 15.6 above the actual program in effect this year . These facts were brought out in a comparative analysis of 1963 school legislation prepared by Utah Foundation, the private governmental go-vernmental research organization. According to the Foundation's calculations Iron School District will be able to finance a school operating program of $1,287,120 or $9,433 per distribution unit under the new arhool legislation without resorting to further special spe-cial elections. This compares with an actual program of $1,-113,498 $1,-113,498 or $3,161 per distribution unit in the 1962-63 school year. J further increae of $153,764 or $3.77 per distribution unit is possible pos-sible if the voters were to approve ap-prove of such action at a special leeway election called for the purpose. The Foundation explains that a distribution unit is allowed for -each classroom unit of 77 pupils in average daily attendance. Ad-xlitlonal Ad-xlitlonal distribution units are provided for supervisory personnel, person-nel, small schools, and special classes for handicapped children, vocational education, and other special purposes. During the current cur-rent 1962-63 school year, Iron School District had an estimated J.X6.442 distribution units, which is an average of one distribu tion unit for each 23.19 pupils In average daily attendance. Throughout the state there is a total of 10,560 distribution units or a statewide average of 23.23 pupils for each distribution unit. The Foundation study observes that the new school program should permit substantial salary boosts for most teachers. A number num-ber of districts already have offered of-fered contracts to teachers call-Ing call-Ing for salary Increases ranging from $300 to $1,072 per year. In general the smallest increases were for beginning teachers with the experienced teachers receiving receiv-ing the largest salary boosts. Foundation analysts point out that approximately 79 of the added funds provided under the new school finance law will come from Increased state aid and only 21 from higher local taxes. These percentages will vary considerably con-siderably from district to dls-trict. dls-trict. In some local districts all of the additional school funds will come from state aid while in others much of the increase will come from local taxes. Thf report indicates that the maximum program without further fur-ther election can be financed in Iron School District with an Increased In-creased local property tax levy of 2.00 mills. Since the district had unused leeway authority under the old law, the total local property tax increase could be as much as 2.00 mills above 1962 levels. Moreover, If voter approval appro-val for additional leeway were secured, astill further increase of 3.77 mills would be possible. However, since this special voted leeway must be approved by the people in an election hcM on or before the first day of May, no additional election leeway can be authorized before 1964. In addition to the increased operation program, the 1963 Utah Legislature boosted the amount of state aid going for school building purposes. Altogether, the Foundation study estimates that $10 million in state aid will be distributed to local districts for bulldng purposes durng the next biennlum. This compares with $6.5 million in stat schoo' building aid which was available availa-ble during ths (1961-63) ben-nium. |