Show School Support Shifting To State State- Federal Total revenue for operations and capital outlay in the Davis School District during 69 1968 amounted to according to a study just completed completed completed com com- by Utah Foundation the private research organization OF THE TIIE TOTAL revenue receipts in Davis District last year or percent percent percent per per- cent came from state aid percent from local property taxes 93 percent from Federal aid and from rentals fees charges and miscellaneous miscellaneous miscellaneous miscella miscella- local sources For the state as a whole the Foundation report indicates indicates indicates indi indi- cates that support of public education during recent years has been shifting away from local school districts to the State and the Federal govern govern- ments In 30 1929 for example more than 65 percent of public school support in Utah c came a m e from local property taxes BY 60 1959 the proportion of public school revenues derived derived derived de de- de- de rived from local property taxes had declined to 51 percent percent percent per per- cent and last year the percentage percentage percentage per per- was only 40 percent The report notes that Federal Federal Federal Fed Fed- eral grants are beginning to play an increasingly important role in the finances of local school districts Federal aid to local schools in Utah has risen from 28 million in 60 1959 to million in 69 1968 a fold five increase MOST OF this increase has resulted from new Federal programs established during the such as the elementary elementary elementary ele ele- ele- ele and secondary education education education tion act and some of the poverty anti-poverty programs created created created cre cre- by the economic opportunity opportunity opportunity act Despite the increases in Federal school aid during recent recent recent re re- re- re cent years Foundation analysts analysts analysts ana ana- point out that Utah derives derives derives de de- de- de rives a smaller proportion of total school revenue from Federal sources than most other states THE LATEST National Education Education Education Edu Edu- cation Association estimates show that Utah ranks among the 50 states in the percentage of total public revenue obtained from Federal funds According to the Foundation study the relatively low percentage percentage percentage per per- of Federal funds distributed distributed distributed dis dis- to Utah schools is the result of deral allocation allocation allocation alloca alloca- tion formulae which are generally generally generally gen gen- unfavorable to Utah Thus the proportion of Federal Federal Federal Fed Fed- eral aid received by Utah schools is substantially below the US U.S. average despite the fact that Utah ranks near the top in educational load and very low in financial ability THE REPORT suggests that even more significant than the contributions of Federal funds to local school districts is the growing influence of the Federal grants in the operation operation operation oper oper- of the State School Of Of- fice The 1970 State Budget Document Document Document Docu Docu- ment shows that approximately approximate approximate- ly 73 percent of the total administrative budget of the Utah State Board of Education Education Education tion for 70 1969 consists of Federal funds MUCH OF the direction for local school hool operations is the result of policies formulated by bythe bythe bythe the State Board With nearly three fourths of the funds to operate the State School 1 Office coming from Federal sources the Foundation raises the question of how much state policies are influenced by Federal directives and pressures I |