Gadsden County Times

Supt. Gray Speaks On County Schools At Exchange Club

Gives Insight Into Financial Affairs of County Schools and How Funds Are Used

How Gadsden county's schools have been kept up to a high standard without incurring large debts for operating expenses, while many Florida counties were piling up great school debts, was explained to the Quincy Exchange club members at their regular luncheon meeting at the Quincy Hotel Friday by C. H. Gray, county superintendent of public instruction.

Mr. Gray called attention to the fact that during the past several years, the general county fund income had gradually decreased, while the schools were constantly growing, having larger and larger enrollments, and making it necessary to spend more and more money in their effective operation.

"Last year," said Mr. Gray, "we had a total enrollment in the white and colored schools of 7,500 children. These children are being taught by a total of 188 teachers, whose salaries for each month, added to the expenses of transporting the children, maintaining the transportation equipment, and other expenses connected with running the schools make a total monthly expenditure of about $17,000.

"In view of the fact that we have gradually grown to an enrollment of 7,500 pupils, necessitating 188 teachers, we could not have kept the schools running up to standard for the regular length terms, but for the fact that the gradually dwindling (continued on page 8)
SUPT GRAY SPEAKS ON
SCHOOLS AT EXCHANGE

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general county fund income has been supplemented by appropriations from the state legislature.

"There has been considerable discussion lately in reference to the amount of gas tax money which we will receive for schools, in which it is inferred that a good many people are under the impression that this money is over and above the amount required to run the schools properly.

"When we made our budget last year we figured that the 10 mills county tax would realize $46,169.49. Deducting 10 percent from this for shortage of collections, leaves $41,552.52 from that source. We estimated that from the state tax of 1 mill for school funds we would receive $15,500, while poll taxes would yield about $2,000. Using as a basis information sent out from Tallahassee, we estimated that the gas tax would yield $55,228.27, which makes a total of $114,280.82 for the general fund income.

"In addition to the above, special school districts levied to receive $43,535.65. This amount, we estimated, should be reduced by 10 percent for failure of collections, which brings it down to $39,182.09.

"The above figures do not include taxes levied for the specific purpose of retiring outstanding district bonds and paying interest thereon, as funds for this are not available for any purpose except bonds.

"With these estimates of the income we could expect, the board found it necessary to use every possible economy in making up appropriations and it required extremely careful figuring to stay within the income and provide salaries, transportation, and other expenses to run the schools properly.

"We have, up to this time, received a total of $44,913.44 from the gas tax, for the first nine months of the scholastic year during which it was in force. An additional amount of $14,971.44 is expected from this source for the other three months of the scholastic year, which would bring the total to $59,884.88 from the gas tax fund. After deducting $55,228.27 the amount which we counted on from this source when making up the budget, it would appear on the face of it that we would have a surplus of $4,656.61. However, this is not the case.

"Since making up the budget last year, we have found it necessary to provide two or three additional teachers, and this expense, together with other emergency appropriations, to date, have called for the expenditure of more than $3,200, and we estimate that when the year is over, and all expenses are paid, barring no unusual emergency expenditures we will come out even Steven."

"In my opinion, the board of public instruction is composed of men experienced in business relations, and every precaution has been taken to see that every dollar expended is a wise and just expenditure of funds. Much credit is due the board of public instruction for operating the schools up to standard without piling up great debts. This fact is especially true in view of the fact that many Florida counties have run heavily into debt in order to keep their schools going.

"It is the policy of the present board of public instruction to continue to run the schools on a cash basis, using the money that is provided from year to year, and we believe the people in the county should be proud of the fact that our schools are being kept up to standard and no debts have been contracted that have not been paid up from year to year.

"The boards of trustees in the various districts of the county are for the most part good business men, and have aided materially in running the schools on an economical basis. All have had something to do with the policies and the program for administering the public schools of the county. Under the supervision of the board of public instruction and the various boards of trustees, we are spending slightly more than $15 a year towards the education of each and every school child in the county, and my opinion is that the board of public instruction and the boards of trustees deserve considerable credit for the manner in which these funds are handled to provide, as they do, schools that are up to standard and schools that are not running the county into debt."