BUILDING FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY - Kennedy Bibliothek

71. The author then proceeds to analyse the cost/benefits from the narrower
point of view of the school. In using a one time planning figure of 2 200
pupils for the elementary school he arrives at the conclusion that
community facilities have substantially decreased space allocation for school
use. This point certainly would be a serious one if 400 children were
denied access to a modern facility because of excessive community facilities.
In view of a present school population of 1 200 pupils and fast declining
enrolments, this is a somewhat futile discussion. It shows, however, that
the question of trade-offs (e.g. what gains the school gets for sharing its
space) is indeed an important one and remains largely subjective as long
as social benefits cannot be measured accurately. "It should be noted that
no rental income accrues to the school district for the use of the community
facilities in Pontiac. Whether or not this represents a loss of income
depends on whether one looks at the school budget in isolation or as a unit
of the larger local public expenditure budget. For Pontiac as a city-wide
fiscal entity, a no-rent policy for the Center represents a decision
not to 'bother* with a transfer item from one city department or departments
to another. To the extent that private social agencies are involved, it
implies an indirect public subsidy."(1)
72. The financing arrangement for Dunbar stipulates that social service
agencies rent spaces from the Board of Education as proprietor of the
facility. They are otherwise independent. A third alternative has been
chosen for T0J. After school bonds ($4 150 000) and recreation bonds
($2 500 000) were authorised in a referendum by the voters and subsequently
joined, no additional federal, state, or foundation moneys were utilised
as capital funds. In order to finance operating costs, "annual appropriations
are made from tax sources and rental receipt into a 'Community
Activity Fund' which is managed by the school board and covers all of the
plant operational expense for the combined facility. This technique avoids
the inflation of school or recreational costs and reduces the bookkeeping
for back-charging proportionate shares. This budget is reviewed by
a. citizens 8 committee, the school board, and the county board before
appropriations are made for it."(2)
1) "Fiscal Analysis", op.cito, page 14.
2) Joseph Ringers, Jr., "Thomas Jefferson Junior.High School and
Community Center", unpublished paper, 1976,.page 6.
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