Economic and Marketing INFORMATION
FOR
INDIANA
FARMERS
Prepared by members of the Agricultural Staff of Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. September 28, 1954
Indiana's School Building Problem
By
J. B. Kohlmeyer, Agricultural Economics
This article deals with an important policy issue. Indiana's
school building problem is critical, and the citizens of the state
will need to make their wishes
known to public officials in the
near future.
On issues of this kind, there
are no answers that can be
proved or disproved. For that
reason, the author does not
advocate any particular solution
as being the best. His objective
is to present the citizens of Indiana with some alternatives,
facts and consequences, so that
they will be in a better position
to make up their own minds.
The Problem
IIOW should the money be raised
to pay for the 15,000 public
school rooms that will be needed in
Indiana during the next 15 years? At
present construction costs, approximately $30 million per year, or a
grand total of $450 million will need
to be raised.
Possible Solutions
Under present conditions there are
only three practical ways of raising
the money to pay for these school
rooms:1 (1) local taxation, (2) state
taxation, (3) a combination of state
and local taxation. The latter alternative lends itself to an infinite number
°f possibilities, ranging all the way
from very little to practically all by
e'ther method.
Except for the few school corporations
1 defense areas that may be eligible for
Merd aid.
What is the Issue?
Table I. Estimates of Public School
Building  Needs
When    Needed
Probable
Number
Additional   Rooms   Needed   as   of   September, 1954
(a) to   replace   obsolete   structures
(b) to reduce overcrowded conditions such as: too many pupils in
one room, use of churches, lodge
halls, vacant store buildings, half
day    shifts,    etc.
Additional   Rooms   Needed   in   Future   to
Take   Care   Of   Increased   Enrollment
(a) from   Sept.,   1954,   to   Sept.,   1957
(b) from   Sept.,   1957,   to  Sept.,   1961
(c) from   Sept.,   1961,   to   Sept.,   1968
Total
3,000
2,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
15,000
Based upon findings of the Indiana State
School Survey Study Commission for the period
1951 to 1957; anticipated increase in enrollment
between 1957 and 1968; and estimates of
rooms that have been constructed during the past
several years. While it is obvious that estimates
of this kind will need to be revised from time
to time it is believed that they are sufficiently
accurate   for   policy   making   purposes.
Which of These Alternatives Offers
the Best Solution? This is, of course,
a group decision that has to be made
by the citizens of the state of Indiana.
Before this can be done, individual
differences of opinion must be resolved.
Individuals and groups base their
decisions on issues of this kind upon:
(1) their beliefs about what the facts
are and (2) their likes and dislikes,
or their feelings about what the division of responsibility between the
state and local government ought to
be.
Although individuals or groups are
entitled to their particular likes or
dislikes, they should have the benefit of all the facts available in order
to arrive at the best decision.
Indiana is going to need 15,000 more public school rooms in the
next 15 years. At present construction costs, a total of $450 million will
be needed to build these additional rooms. How can the money be raised?