64 



companied with an explanation of the method used, and what the cost 

 found means. In this report per capita costs will be given on several 

 different bases. 



1. Gross per capita cost (all expenditures divided by average daily 



attendance) . 



2. Gross operating cost per capita (eliminating capital expenditures). 



3. Gross operating per capita cost (including interest on investment). 



4. Per capita coot as in 3 but eliminating extension and reducing 



average daily attendance by eliminating extension students. 



5. Per capita cost to taxpayers (as in 4 but eliminating also amounts 



offset by sales). 



Numbers 4 and 5 are the two methods which are recommended as 

 accounting in the most satisfactory and complete way for all considera- 

 tions. Number 4 is the total cost per student in regular attendance. 

 This gives everything without regard to source of funds. Number 5 

 gives total cost to taxpayers and should be used in determining net cost 

 to the county and state. The first three methods are given for purposes 

 of illustration and explanation. 



Before giving the results and methods for each of these bases, we 

 shall insert the method worked out by the superintendent of the school 

 and the result submitted to the county board of administration in a letter 

 dated January 28, 1916. 



Total available for year 1915 $61,194.00 



Appropriation for equipment $10 ,570 . 00 



Keturned to county treasurer 10,110.05 



Supplies on hand January 1, 1916 1,100.00 



Deficit made up ,2,500.00 



Total deductions 24,280.05 



Total operating cost 1915 $36,913.95 



Conservative estimate of value of extension work 



(1/6 of total operating cost) 6 , 152 . 32 



Cost of instructional work $30,761. 63 



Cost of instructional work per quarter 7,690.40 



Total enrollment regular students 198 



Cost per capita last quarter 1915 (dividing cost per 



quarter by total enrollment) $38.84 



Does not include work with dependent home children. 40 enrolled. 

 This method is subject to several vital criticisms. 



1 . It is based on appropriations instead of on expenditures that is, 

 it gives what it is expected the cost will be rather than what it is. 



2. The deduction for equipment assumes that equipment is not a cost. 

 Either the total equipment or a proportional charge should be included. 

 Actual expenditures for equipment in 1915 were $3,516.83. 



