Therefore, we respectfully solicit your support for the improved funding of P.L. 874 and 815 monies which are essential to the operation of highly impacted school districts. The Gwinn Board of Education takes seriously its obligation to the community, state and Federal government to maintain a program of quality education for the pupils enrolled in its schools. Your support in this endeavor is appreciated. Respectfully submitted. Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, PHILIP THORSON, Superintendent. BOARD OF EDUCATION, Marlinton, W. Va., February 19, 1973. Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, DEAR SIR: This letter is written in support of H.R. 69 which will extend impact aid (P.L. 874) for five years. The administration proposal to end funding for B pupils will cause a loss of approximately $46,659 to Pocahontas County Schools this year. Our survey of October 20, 1972 shows only 27.2 A pupils residing on federal property while we have 242.4 B pupils working on federal property. The 287,964 acres owned by the Monongahela National Forest and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Pocahontas County is larger than the taxable acreage (286,521) which is being assessed at the maximum permitted by state law. Surely, impact aid for B pupils is justified in areas wherein the employer (federal government) owns such large areas of the school district but cannot be taxed to help support the schools of the children of its employees. The loss of impact aid to sparsely populated rural school districts such as ours will be a serious blow to our budget. Sincerely, Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, CHARLES MOORE, Superintendent, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, Pocahontas County Schools. ROME PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Rome, N.Y., February 16, 1973. DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: The new budget reported by the President of the United States, if enacted, will cause severe economic problems for the Rome City School System. PL 874, when it was first enacted, had as its basis, payment in lieu of taxes for the education of children of government employed parents. The need today is as great, if not greater than when the bill was originally introduced. If total funding were to take place this year, Rome would have an entitlement of $1,900,000. But due to the president's veto and the paying only for 3A pupils and uniformed "B's", we will be receiving approximately $1,200,000. As you know, we must begin preparing our budget for a school year approximately six months in advance. I'm sure you realize what economic problems are caused when seven months of a school year have passed and you are still concerned about outstanding budgeted receipt items. Rome, according to the U.S. Department of Labor report, is situated in the highest unemployment area for New York State. Loss of these funds could mean an increase of six dollars on true value or eight dollars on assessed valuation. We have no means available to raise these funds other than direct assessment to our local taxpayer. I strongly urge the continuation of PL 874 and PL 815, and that efforts be taken to fund these programs at 100% of the authorized level. May I request that this letter be shared with your committee and that it become a part of their records. Sincerely, JAMES R. BACHER, Assistant for Research. Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, CROCKER DISTRICT R-2 SCHOOLS, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, Crocker, Mo., February 24, 1973. U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: This is regarding the importance of impact aid, P.L. 874, on our school budget. For the past three years we have averaged about $32,000 a year of impact money and with a teaching staff of thirty nine this would average about $820 per teacher. Our salaries in this area are much below the national average and the state average, which includes impact money, and without it our educational system is really going to suffer. I sincerely hope that you can obtain the necessary support to continue this program. Sincerely, Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, FARRIS D. FORTNER, RANDOLPH COUNTY SCHOOLS, Elkins, W. Va., February 27, 1973. Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, DEAR MR. PERKINS: We strongly support H.R. 69 which will extend impact aid to qualifying school systems another five years. The Administration's proposal to end B pupil participation would cost us this year approximately $27,000. Our tax rate for schools is being assessed at a maximum permitted by law. Furthermore, as a result of an amendment adopted by the voters in November, the county school system will lose more than $30,000 revenue next year because personal property has been removed from the assessment base. Respectfully, J. J. MEADOWs, Superintendent. NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PERKINS: We wish to again thank you for your deep concern for the education of our young citizens and the help you have extended in supporting legislation which has made such an immeasurable contribution to the education of this country. It is apparent the Executive Branch of our nation wants to either negate many of the recent advances made, or contrary to pre-election promises, transfer the Federal contributions to education to the local property taxpayer. It would appear that if present plans persist, both conditions may prevail. While concerned with all the educational programs, we are particularly concerned about the impact aid programs. The Federal budgetary proposal to the Congress in eliminating all payments for the "B" category pupils is one that neither the State of Rhode Island nor the Town of North Kingstown can afford, as it results in drastic reductions in Public Law 874 allocations. The population in North Kingstown for 1972–73 is currently 7,393 pupils (see IX, page 3, Exhibit A). 1,981 or 26.8% are "A" pupils living on Federal property; 1,058 or 14.3% are uniformed services living on private property. Actually, 49.0% of North Kingstown's pupils are impact pupils. We in North Kingstown would concede that the elimination of the civilian employees on Federal properties but living on private property (civilian B's) is not unjustified. They basically are not unlike the employees of any other industry, private or public, and contribute their full share of property taxes. Civilian employees also are inclined to live on their property for an extended period of time. Members of the uniformed services, however, who live on private property, and who are assigned to the Air Station or Davisville do not live on their property (rented or owned) for a very long period. Furthermore, the property is continually being occupied by an impact family with children. Consequently, the property never produces sufficient tax revenues to pay for the educational and other municipal services. For example, a house with an assessed valuation of $20,000 taxed at $30.00 per thousand would produce $600 in tax revenues, with 60% for schools ($360.00) and 40% ($240.00) for operating the municipal services. With two children in school costing $600 in local tax dollars, the property falls far short in paying its way. This is true even over a 50-year period. The same home occupied by a civilian family with two children usually requires 26 years (13 years K through 12 for each child) of education. Education cost: 26 years @ $600 equal $15,600; School tax revenue: 50 years @ $360 equals $18,000. Occupied by an impact family in unformed services for 40 of the 50 years, the following results: Education cost: 80 years @ $600 equals $48,000; School tax revenue: 50 years @ $360 equals $18,000; a net deficit of $30,000. Impact aid for uniformed services living on private property in a community is essential if the community is to survive financially. If North Kingstown were to lose the aid to which it is entitled for "B" pupils in the uniformed services, a loss of at least $278,754 would result (Exhibit A, page 3, No. X). North Kingstown's total Entitlement based on the October 17 count date is currently estimated at $1,389,439 (Exhibit A, page 2, No. VI). The loss of "B" pupil aid would result in several alternatives: 1. A tax increase to local property taxpayers of $1.75 to $2.00 per thousand (an unlikelihood with present taxpayer revolt). 2. A curtailment in educational programs, a result being an inadequate educational opportunity for all children, impact pupils as well as local. 3. Exceedingly large pupil-teacher ratios resulting in lower quality teaching staff. It is essential that appropriations continue in the "B" category and be fully funded at 100%. Of particular concern to the taxpayer is the failure of our government to share in the cost of educational facilities (exhibit C). The summary on page 3 of Exhibit C illustrates the inequity and the complete failure of the Federal Government to assume an equitable share of its responsibility in providing facilities for impact pupils. In the last ten years North Kingstown has spent nearly 10 million dollars in school housing with less than a 10% contribution by Federal government and a more than 90% contribution by the local and State governments. The annual principal and interest payment on these six schools alone totals $1,190,248 shared almost equally between the State and local governments. The citizens and taxpayers of the Town of North Kingstown and the State of Rhode Island have been, and are currently, more than keeping their respective responsibilities to the children of local origin and to the many impact families as well. The Federal government has not, nor is it maintaining its responsibilities and now wants to shirk its duty even more. We respectfully request that you use your good offices, as you have so often in the past, to urge both the Congress and the Executive Branch of our government to fu'fill its responsibilities and to citizens and adequately fund the educational programs. Please feel free to use any of my correspondence to you before the Congress. and if I can be of any personal assistance by testifying before any committee in behalf of our educational needs, do not hestitate to call on my services. Respectfully yours, Enclosures. BURTON FROBERG, Clerk, North Kingstown School Committee. EXHIBIT A-TOWN OF NORTH KINGTOWN P.L. 874 ANALYSIS, 1972-73 (COUNT DATE OCTOBER 17, 1972) I. Where the "A" pupils live. Naval Air Station, Quonset Point--- Naval Housing, Wickford Naval Construction Battalion Center, Davisville-- Hoskins Park, Quonset-- Keifer Park, Quonset---. Navy Drive, North Kingstown_. Military Drive, Quonset- Areas I & II, Quonset_. Nike Site, Happy Road--- Total "A" pupils-(living on Federal property, parents working on Federal property) – II. Pupils living on Federal property but parents not employed on Federal property. Military Drive, Quonset-3 B 1 Pupils-- III. Pupils living on private property but working on eligible Federal property, 3 B 2 pupils. Members of Uniformed Services__. Civilians employed-- Total 3 B 2 pupils‒‒‒‒‒ IV. Where pupils are attached or employed. A. "A" Pupils Quonset Naval Air Station__. C.B.C. Davisville__ Newport Naval Base_-_. Nike Site, Coventry---. Fort Devens, Massachusetts Newport War College__. N.A.S. Bermuda__. Field's Point, Providence__ First Naval District Headquarters, Boston, Mass.. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass- Marine Corps Training Center, Providence R.O.T.C., University of Rhode Island____ Fort Devens' Payroll Office, assigned at Recruiting Total B. 3 B 1 Pupils-Parent just retired, still on Federal C. 3 B 2 Pupils: Uniformed Services, Quonset Naval Air Station----- Various assignments---. Civilians : C.B.C., Davisville___. 88 EXHIBIT A-TOWN OF NORTH KINGTOWN-Continued V. A.D.A. on Count Date 3 A Pupils (Living on Federal property). 3 B 1 Pupils (Living on Federal properety (not em- 3 B 2 Pupils (Not living on Federal property, work- Uniformed services_. Civilians VI. Estimated Entitlement Based on First Count. 1,831,329 A's @ $598.48_. 2.621 3BI @ 299.24_ 977.95 3B2 @ 299.24_. Total entitlement on uniformed services only__. (Not receiving civilian aid 72-73 Loss-536.14 @ 299.24 $160,434 if at 100 percent payment rate) VII. If payment for 1972-73 was made on same basis as 197172 100 percent on A pupils 73 percent on B pupils A's 1831.329 @ 598.48__ 3B2 1,514.091 @ 73 percent of 299.24 @ 218.44_. Total Entitlement.. VIII. Net Loss by losing civilian B's. (From VII above). (From VI above). Total Final count in usually 95-97 percent lower than count Total loss @ 95 percent____ IX. Percent of pupils by category 10/17 A pupils (1,981) B 1 pupils (3). B 2 Uniformed services (1,058). B 2 Civilians (580) Non-Federal pupils (3,466) Tuition pupils (305) Total (7,393) –. X. Estimated losses to North Kingstown on P.L. 874 pay ments based on the following assumptions. 1. Loss of all impact pupils 95 percent of VI $1,389,- 2. Loss of all B pupils if at 100 percent payment 1, 831. 329 2. 621 1, 514. 091 977.95 536. 14 $1,096, 013. 78 784.30 292, 641. 75 1, 389, 439. 00 $1,096, 013. 78 330, 738. 03 572.53 1, 427, 324. 34 $1,427, 324 1,389, 439 37, 885 35, 990 26.80 .04 14.31 7.85 46.88 4. 13 100.00 95-545 73 pt. 1 47 |