School Tax Given A 50-50 Chance

School officials think a request for an additional 1.3 milis for school operating expenses on Monday's ballot has a 50-50 chance of passing. "It it passes it will be a very close vote," says Dr. David Aberdeen, deputy superintendent for planning. About 97 per cent of the money raised by the 1.3 milis is expected to be spent for program improvements, new personnel, supplies, equipment and textbooks,' Supt. Harry Howard says. The 1.3 milis would raise about $1.028 million the first ' year. It would be levied for five years. Howard and the school board have developed a $29.4 million working budget for next year. If given final approval the budget would be $3.182 million greater than this year if the 1.3 milis passes Without additional millage the school district will receive $2,154,397 more than it is to spend this year because of increased propërty assessments and an ending balance from this year. Additional revenues from a growing tax base and the proposed millage increase would be used tó: - Reinstate some programs that have been eliminated in previous years because of budget cuts, add and expand other programs; , - Increase the budget for supplies and equipment to make up for a 10 per cent cut made two years ago and 10 per cent I for inflation for those two years; -Offer employés salary increases of 5.5 per cent. plus 2.2 per cent experience increment. Representatives of the largest bargaining unit, the Ann Arbor Education I ciation (AAEA), have said a 5.5 per cent I increase plus a 2.2 experience increment is not adequate to keep up with inflation. While 86 per cent of the school district's budget goes for salaries, only 53 per cent of the $3.182 million budget increase is scheduled to increase salaries of current employés. The board has tentatively budgeted $1.696 million in salary increases. About 15 per cent of the additional revenues, $490,000, is expected to be spent in the area of plant maintenance, operations, Utilities and gasoline. The increase will be used to improve cleahing and maintenance of buildings, Howard says. The $996,000 budgeted for program improvements, new personnel, supplies, equipment and textbooks would restore some of the cuts and provide for infla tion. Items to be added to the school district's program include: A summer school program for elementary and high school students to provide remedial help; An increased subsidy of student afterschool, intramural and athletic programs at the junior high and senior high school levéis; Increased budgets for textbooks, suplies and equipment at the elementary and secondary levéis for special education and adult education. Increased stock in the district's stockroom of student supplies to replace stock depleted by cutbacks in previous years. New personnel to be hired with the additional revenues include:' two elementary principáis, an assistant principal for an elementary school, two school nurses, a tutorial consultant to coordínate volunteer programs, two additional secondary school counselors, six employés in the area of special education, full time coördinators for music, art, science, math, social studies, physical education and English, a director of secondary curriculum, 10 custodians, an electrician and hourly pay for a part-time student photographer and a board secretary. Howard has said if the 1.3 milis are not approved by voters a major portion of the budget increase due to the larger tax base will have to go toward meeting the increased costs of goods and services. Board President Duane Renken says if the millage does not pass, he believes I the new school board probably will.have I to return to the voters with a modified I request so it can meet the rising cost of I inflation and give salary increases. Howard says he has been asked why I the school district doesn't postpone a I quest for additional millage until I ber. It is not possible to postpone the I millage until November, he says, be-J cause the revenues could not be used for I the 1974-75 school year. If voters 1 proved additional millage in November, I the tax would not be levied until the 1 lowing July. Privately, school officials have 1 pressed a concern that the presence of I the city's request for an additional 1.7 I milis on tfie ballot will hurt the school I district's chances for passage of the 1.3 I milis. ' "It doesn't help us any," Aberdeen 1 mits. The Citizens Millage Steering 1 mittee has launched what some 1 trators cali "one of the best managed I campaigns" in recent school district 1 tory. More than 200 persons have been I volved in. small committees at each I school to inform voters about the I tion, according to Griffith McDonald, I chairmah of the Citizens Millage I ing Committee. The committees have I used a telephone campaign, mailings to I narents and advertisements. .tfM L& 5 I ÏTie schools9 request: 1.3 milis for five years for operating expenses.