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School budget votes are a scam.
No matter what you vote, they still stick it to you in the end.
I'm not as militantly against teacher salaries as I am to entitlement and fairness issues. Fine, they make 110K a year, whatever. But quit pushing the need for greed.
Cap salaries or raises at a certain rate or time period. For some of these districts, sky is the limit for salaries, it's just not fair. And basically what happens is, you end up paying the majority of your tax money for executive salaries. If you have 20 or so big shots in your district making 100k or even up to around 200k a year, that friggin adds up quick. Salaries make up over 60% of the budget for most districts. That's just silly.
Look, what makes me angry more than the yearly dollar amount is that they hold the kids over your head as collateral. "If the budget don't pass the only ones your hurting are the kids"...WHY? So it's fine for the kids to suffer, but god forbid the employees don't get a raise. It's just plain selfish and greedy.
Really, unless you are a complete and total financially irresponsible idiot, are these teachers going to end up homeless if the salaries are frozen or even partially reduced for a set period of time? I don't think so. They aint gonna go down the toilet, maybe some wont be able to put the addition on the house or get that inground pool, big deal. Times like these everybody should be willing to make some sacrifices until this country gets on it's feet again.
I am actually intrigued by where it led -- the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association -- NSSBA Home Page.
It lays out their game plans for potential tax caps, budgets, their take on the numbers, etc.
Fascinating reading.
Check out this one (Nassau County Council of School Superintendents
“A Cautionary Tale” Presentation by Dr. Herb Brown Superintendent, Oceanside UFSD):
4. And, this may me the most important – I would suggest that you budget
using a three-year time horizon. I would set up a three-year spreadsheet
and put in estimated numbers for: · Salary Increases – If you have contracts in place for three years,
use those. If not, you can estimate increases.
· Teacher Retirement System:
2008/2009 – 7.63% of salary
2009/2010 – between 6% and 7% of salary 2010/2011 - might go as high as 12% of salary.
The retirement system has indicated it is likely that unless the
economy reverses itself, the rate for 2010/2011 will represent a
significant increase.
By laying it out for three years in this format, you will see what happens if you
apply too much fund balance in one year or use too much of your reserve funds
in one year. You will see gaps and tax levy problems three years in advance
which will give you an opportunity to change direction and prevent tax rate
increases from hitting too hard in any one year.
Notice how important the RAISES and PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS are and how they are assumed to BE THERE and are EXPECTED ON THE BALANCE SHEET FIRST. How about skipping a raise due to the economy or lowering pension contributions? Oh no!
It also looks like the taxpayers will be reamed out for ADDITIONAL percentages of pension contributions "unless the economy reverses itself."
God forbid THEY suffer any consequences of the bad economy; we should pay MORE. Yes, you heard it here, our taxes will definitely go up even more to take care of their pensions. No mercy at all on the taxpayers. No compromises. Take, take, take.
Also notice how they are advised to use a 3 year plan so they can try and fool the public by "spreading out the tax increase" (prevent tax rate increases from hitting too hard in any one year).
Thread is now closed. Apparently this discussion has run its course since the posts now involve nothing but personal attacks, calling other members names and insulting each other all of which are against the Terms of Service.
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TY for the valuable link
