anaheim-gazette 1964-03-12

GAZETTE Opinions Virgil Pinkley, Editor & Publisher 4—The Gazette Thursday, March 12, 1964 Countywide School Tax Has Built-In Drawbacks There are usually an abundance of built-in flaws to any public financing plan of the Robin Hood variety, such as that proposed Friday by Gov. Brown. The governor, you'll recall, issued a hard sell to the State Legislature for a countywide school tax that would require a contribution of 50 cents per $100 assessed valuation for elementary districts, 60 cents for high school districts, and a total of the two for unified districts. The funds would be channelled to one central distribution point and returned to the districts on the basis of their current ability to finance their school program. Poor districts, or those in which population growth is exceeding the growth of assessed valuation, would gain under a countywide tax plan. More affluent districts would be required to raise additional taxes to continue their present programs. The countywide tax proposal is not new. There was a strong property tax burden. In fact, it is designed to raise another addition of $27.5 million in wealthy districts to give to poor districts, and will increase local taxes even more as districts vote for overrides to replace the funds lost. 4. It eliminates single responsibility for school tax rates. No longer is the local school board solely responsible for the school tax rate. The governor points out in support of the countywide tax that in many cases today, a child's place of residence determines the level of education he receives. There is no doubt that inequities exist throughout California in individual school districts' ability to finance their school programs. We agree with Don Collin, tax and research specialist of the California Farm Bureau Federation, when he says use of state aid for equalizing educational opportunities should be the first order of business. one central distribution point and returned to the districts on the basis of their current ability to finance their school program. Poor districts, or those in which population growth is exceeding the growth of assessed valuation, would gain under a countywide tax plan. More affluent districts would be required to raise additional taxes to continue their present programs. The countywide tax proposal is not new. There was a strong movement for it during the closing stages of the 1936 legislative session. As for the built-in flaws, there are four that are mentioned frequently: 1. It puts the state into the local property tax field by requiring that a certain level of taxation be maintained. 2. It will retard district reorganization by "bailing out" the financially weak and inefficient districts. These districts will have no desire to join with a strong and efficient district. 3. It does nothing to relieve the There is no doubt that inequities exist throughout California in individual school districts' ability to finance their school programs. We agree with Don Collin, tax and research specialist of the California Farm Bureau Federation, when he says use of state aid for equalizing educational opportunities should be the first order of business. Collin recommends independent studies on the effect of district organization on school finance; proper level of the foundation (individual district) program and the relationship of state and local support of the foundation program; and the use of nonvoted overrides to avoid statutory maximum tax rates and to finance special interest school programs. In other words, before calling for a new school financing structure, let's see whether the funds we have now—both at the local and state levels—are being utilized in the manner that can best do the job. A race horse: An animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time. Specimen Trees and Shrubs Complete Nursery Service Botts Nursery 1228 W. LINCOLN AVENUE KE 5-5450 "Our Business Is Growing" ARMY SGT. CARL P. HILL, son of Mrs. Edna M. Butler, 514 W. Ameriage, Fullerton, and other members of the 30th Medical Group participated in field training Exercise MED DELTA OVER 50,000 ITEMS OFFICE SUPPLIES • ART SUPPLIES DUPLICATING AND PRINTING • CARDS HOME & OFFICE GIFTS • BOOKS WEBER STATIONERY & BOOK STORE 139 W. LINCOLN, ANAHEIM • PR 6-6750 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Sergeant Hill, assigned Headquarters Detachment of the group's 52d Medical Battalion near Lidwigsburg, Germany, arrived overseas on this tour duty in October 1961. The sergeant, son of Carl Hill, 2424 68th St., Galveston, Texas is a 1954 graduate of Fullerton Union High School and attended Fullerton Junior College. year after year after year... OUR SAME EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT TEAM SERVES YOU Whether you're a First FEDERAL saver, or a borrower, it's good to know that the same, dependable management team is guarding your interests year after year. Members of the First FEDERAL Board of Directors—composed of our top officers and distinguished business and civic leaders—have served you for an average of 21 years each. They're hard-working, wise, devoted—yet they own no stock in First FEDERAL. We are a mutually-owned association, owned only by our savers. And as evidenced by the safety, growth and high 4.85% rate we pay, the First FEDERAL team is a winning team. And, the line-up of directors and officers hasn't changed in years, either. We invite you to join the First FEDERAL family of loyal customers. FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS and Loan Association of Alhambra ASSETS: $100,000,000 — A. G. KRUSE, PRESIDENT 4.85% = $4.94 A YEAR OR EACH BIG SAVING WITH DIVIDENDS COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY ANAHEIM OFFICE: 529 So. State College Blvd. (Placentia Street), 1 block south of E. Anaheim Center • PR 6-5700 M. F. Essenmacher, Asst. Vice-President & Manager Head Office: Alhambra • Other offices in Costa Mesa and West Covina Member: Conference of FEDERAL Savings & Loan Associations STATE SENATOR'S COUNTRY By JOHN A. MURDY If we look behind the philosophy of our state government operations today we see a program supposedly geared to improving the well-being of every citizen. Nearly 43 cents of every dollar is spent on education. Nearly 20 cents of every dollar is spent on health and welfare. Another 20 cents is spent on highway transportation, five cents on natural resources and three cents on corrections. The rest of the tax dollar is split up under miscellaneous items, public safety, business and commerce, and fiscal affairs and management. What I'm leading up to here is that we have geared the program to improving our lot. It would follow, therefore, that if we spend 43 cents of every tax dollar on education, or more — as it appears we will have to — then eventually, the socio-economic level of our citizens should rise to the point where we can cut down expenditures on health and welfare. LAW IN ACTION CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS You can create a trust by giving your property to a trustee (who now "owns" it) but who must manage it for a beneficiary. After a period of years, the property might go to them at a certain age. Within wide limits a trustor can put whatever condition he wants on how the property will go, and the trustee must follow them, if he accepts the trusteeship. These kinds of trusts are "voluntary" trusts, set up because someone wanted to create them on his own terms. But sometimes the law forces one to create a trust, a constructive trust, usually to prevent fraud. Suppose someone defrauds you of your money, a car, or a piece of land. You might sue him for fraud and get a money judgment. But sometimes you can't collect money under miscellaneous items, public safety, business and commerce, and fiscal affairs and management. What I'm leading up to here is that we have geared the program to improving our lot. It would follow, therefore, that if we spend 43 cents of every tax dollar on education, or more — as it appears we will have to — then eventually, the socio-economic level of our citizens should rise to the point where we can cut down expenditures on health and welfare. Well, this would be the truth if our population mained nearly constant other states from which booming population is ing, had similar edu- and training programs. But many people are if we need more money public educational system we should cut downatures in other fields to it. Or, in other words, we petuate dependency of ment of our population fare aid, when more or spent on educating the y future employment and ey. Supposedly, this is one selling points they fed year when the legislature proved AB 59, a liberal fare assistance program. This year we again for financial cost of public education, without drastic plans for financing the gram, our public school term in California faces ous fiscal problem. Next year, I suppose it something else—all points to a rather disorganizing administration oriented and complex sings of state agencies. My big fear is that the power will change it for or worse, the latter more able. This being an election you might have more t about it than you realize. Our State Department riculture reported recent in Service RONNIE W. BELL, seaman apprentice, USN, son of Mrs. Doris C. Reedy of 10621 Gilbert St., is participating aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard in a coordinated U.S.-Nationalist Chinese amphibious exercise called "Operation Backpack" being conducted off the coast of Taiwan. DON E. HARVEY, airman apprentice, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer S. Harvey of 2736 Lizbeth Ave., LARRY D. MURPHY, fireman apprentice, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Murphy of 319 Placentia Ave., THOMAS J. NIESSEN, interior communications technician fireman apprentice, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Niessen of 2119 West Sunrise Ave., serving aboard the anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier USS Bennington which has departed for a six-month Western Pacific cruise. Marriage: The result of a man getting hooked with his own line. ANAHEIM SAVING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION 187 West Lincoln Ave • PR 2 HUNTINGTON BEACH 411 Main Street • LEhigh 6 NAVY LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE WILLIAM L. FOSTER, son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Foster of 936 West Broadway, visited San Francisco aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul, which operates out of San Diego. ALAN V. BALL, hospital corpsman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oben L. Hartjoy of 2531 Crescent Ave., serving with Marine Battalion Landing Team 3/2 in the Mediterranean, is scheduled to return to Camp Lejune, N.C. MICHAEL T. ARENDS, sonarman second class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Arends of 801 North Loara, and WENDEL E. RILEY, seaman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Riley of 1332 Arlington, are serving aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Robison, operating out of San Diego. JOSEPH D. ACKLES, seaman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Watson G. Ackles of 2159 Vern St., is participating aboard the tank landing ship USS Whitfield County in a coordinated U.S.-Nationalist Chinese amphibious exercise called "Operation Backpack" being conducted off the coast of Taiwan. COUNTY REPORT A. MURDY Well, this would be closer to the truth if our population remained nearly constant or the other states from which our booming population is originating, had similar educational and training programs. But many people are saying if we need more money for the public educational system, then we should cut down expenditures in other fields to provide it. Or, in other words, why perpetuate dependency of a segment of our population on welfare aid, when more could be spent on educating the youth for future employment and solvency. Supposedly, this is one of the selling points they fed us last year when the legislature approved AB 59, a liberalized welfare assistance program. This year we again face the financial cost of public education, without drastic new plans for financing the program, our public school system in California faces a serious fiscal problem. Next year, I suppose it will be something else — all of which points to a rather disorganized, confusing administration of diss oriented and complex groupings of state agencies. My big fear is that those in power will change it for better or worse, the latter more probable. This being an election year, you might have more to say about it than you realize. Our State Department of Agriculture reported recently, there was another 3 per cent drop. Total farm units now in California is set at 95,000. Average size of farms today in the state is 400 acres and the average investment is $168,000. '61 CADILLAC COUPE Full power. Immunicate throughout. Assume payments of $2465 A.N.D.P. CALL BOD Credit Manager — 776-7909 BEACH MOTORS 1125 S. LOS ANGELES ANAHEIM GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SEE DRS. 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