Show I 94 Million Demand Challen Challenged ed The recent request request request re re- re- re quest for an additional additional 94 million appropriation to the states state's public school program for the coming biennium has been tagged unrealistic by bythe bythe bythe the Utah Taxpayers Association Association Association tion a statewide government spending watchdog tion ASSOCIATION claim that a 94 million boost would jump biennial school spending from the current to or 32 32 percent against an average daily attendance increase of only two percent The report said that it would be 14 percent over what we spent in 1961 63 1961 3 against an enrollment growth of only 20 percent adding that this would set an all- all time spending record SPENDING PER student would skyrocket UTA said I 39 percent over the 1968 figure of to if the theM 94 M million request were adopted This would be 19 percent more than average now being spent by our seven neighboring states and 9 percent over the average of the top three To say day ay that Utah is not spending enough per pupil because we are below the average of the surrounding states is misleading UTA added It lell does not make sense sense to expect the efficient to spend as much as the in in- in Utah efficient has 40 school districts or administration units where Montana has Arizona Colorado and Wyoming A AVERAGE V RAGE monthly month month- ly teachers teacher's salary is now for time actually work work- ed The Association reported report report- ed that this could jump to about next year and near 1078 the following year by adding 94 million They said If spending goes up 94 million so will taxes claiming this could hike local school property taxes 54 percent THE AVERAGE statewide levy could increase 2826 mills from Crom the current 68 to per 1000 1000 1 of assessed valuation and that if it were all funded through increases in the i- i income tax it c c. d 1 i almost double current rate The watchdog organisation tion said Utah taxpayers have cinched in their belts as far as they will go to support support support sup sup- port education Now its it's time the schools did the same and cut their suit according to the cloth available by matching spending request to the money available What is needed now is not more money for education but rather more education for the money spent |