School Building Needs Demand 'yes' Vote Monday

IETHE Michigan Xegislature had moved f aster on school tax reform this year, the prospects for millage increases in dozens of communities, including Ann Arbor and other Washtenaw county districts, might be better next week. The Legislature is considering proposals, including one by Gov. Milliken, to reduce school taxes on property and substitute an increase in the state income tax. Taxpayers know such a shift will mean an overall boost in what they pay for government services, but they may still appreciate any move to lessen the burden on home ownership. The mood of the taxpayer doesn't seem to have changed greatly since June a year ago when Ann Arbor district electors rejected bonding and millage issues on the ballot. Substantial assessment increases for many persons since then have caused some citizens to take the position that taxes have already been increased this year. THE bonding proposal on Mon day's ballot in the Ann Arbor dis■ trict is another matter, however. ; The schools cannot continue to serve an expanding population without a building program that is kept current with the needs. Portable classrooms are fine f or temporary additions to schools, but there is a limit to the number that can be used in one location without shortchanging the pupils. The district has a serious obligation, too, to fulfill commitments made to areas annexed to the Ann Arbor system. Dixboro, as one example, has been promised capital improvements for too long. Mack School badly needs improvements, and renovations planned at a number of elementary and ' jumórTngh'scnools u ifcTer'the bonding program can be classed almost as maintenance operations which the administration cannot afford to ignore any longer. The Ann Arbor Public Library should be expanded. District electors carne within 1,500 votes of approving an addition last year when bonding issues were placed on the ballot individually because of uncertainty over the legality of counting votes of non-property owners. If the support of the library were not in the schools' budget, it would be in the city's. ,It makes sense to put it under s school financing, and the obligation of citizens to support public libraries should not have to be argued. ANN ARBOR rejected the entire capital improvement program last year, but the schools cannot continue indefinitely without major repairs, additions and provisions for new schools to serve developing subdivisions. The News urges a "Yes" vote Monday on the authorization for the Board of Education to borrow not more than $12,900,000 for capital improvements. They are badly needed. RECOMMENDING three candidates for the school board from a field of 12 is difficult, even with the help of their campaign statements and appearance on Candidates' Night programs. The apparent diff erences in philosophies and positions on specific issues are not that great. Taking into account additionally, however, the question of how I their contributions would complement those of present board members, The News gives an edge tol these four: Duane Renken, Dr.l Charles L. Votaw, Ruth L. Zweif-J Ier and Ted J. Heusel. I