Imagine if YOU Were the Newly Elected County Executive ... (buying, school districts)

[hotkarl]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

More like hitting a scrach off for a c-note.

No offense karl, I dont know what your situation is, perhaps you bought your home many years ago but 50-60-70k is about half of what you need to raise a middle class family on LI.

Its nothing like hitting Lotto.

Crooks

None taken brutha.

So, going from $8.25 an hour part time at Blockbuster video to 65 grand a year wouldn't feel like a homerun to a college kid?

To answer your question, I bought my house in '07.
Granted, with money I earned off of my first house, but it ended up being a lateral move financially because I did this while the market was laying in pieces all over the place. Actually, no, I buried myself, it wasn't very lateral when I really think about it.
I'm probabally in the "should be on welfare" bracket financially.
Wife, 2 kids, a dog. Ridiculous mortgage and all the other fun stuff like LIPA, water, heating oil, etc...

I'm getting by. But, I'm a hustler, I like my stuff and want to keep it.
I do whatever I gotta do to make money. I aint afraid to work or take a risk on something if I want it that badly. I'm not afraid to try anything for a buck, I'm a quick learner and I'm also not afraid to get my hands dirty.
Pride too. I could very easily go to the gov for handouts, but my stubborness and pride just wont allow it.

It is tough, and very frustrating and super stressful when the mortgage is due and you're short a few bucks and you gotta figure out a way to make up the difference. And, I do not borrow money. Again...my stupid pride.

What the hell was my point?
Oh yeah, if you truly want something bad enough, it can be done. It's up to the individual. This is the land of opportunity right?

[dman72]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

What district is that? Looks like the people there need to light a fire under the butts of their "school board" TO STOP APPROVING UNION CONTRACTS WITH PAY RAISES FOR AWHILE.

I know teachers..my wife is one, and I talk to her friends. If you froze all their salaries for five years, most wouldn't really complain. Those who aren't married to other teachers (or cops or firefighters) have had wives and husbands lose jobs, see their parents struggling,etc..they know what's going on.. Yes, a few big mouths have the attitude that they shouldn't give an inch, but that just can't be sustained.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by hotkarl

None taken brutha.

So, going from $8.25 an hour part time at Blockbuster video to 65 grand a year wouldn't feel like a homerun to a college kid?

To answer your question, I bought my house in '07.
Granted, with money I earned off of my first house, but it ended up being a lateral move financially because I did this while the market was laying in pieces all over the place. Actually, no, I buried myself, it wasn't very lateral when I really think about it.
I'm probabally in the "should be on welfare" bracket financially.
Wife, 2 kids, a dog. Ridiculous mortgage and all the other fun stuff like LIPA, water, heating oil, etc...

I'm getting by. But, I'm a hustler, I like my stuff and want to keep it.
I do whatever I gotta do to make money. I aint afraid to work or take a risk on something if I want it that badly. I'm not afraid to try anything for a buck, I'm a quick learner and I'm also not afraid to get my hands dirty.
Pride too. I could very easily go to the gov for handouts, but my stubborness and pride just wont allow it.

It is tough, and very frustrating and super stressful when the mortgage is due and you're short a few bucks and you gotta figure out a way to make up the difference. And, I do not borrow money. Again...my stupid pride.

What the hell was my point?
Oh yeah, if you truly want something bad enough, it can be done. It's up to the individual. This is the land of opportunity right?

We're not talking about handouts or the Govt, but 65k is not a homerun for a college education and isnt nearly enough to get it done on LI, so you better hustle quick kid/

I do agree...its up to you.

Crooks

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Well if the teachers are married and their spouse works and makes a similar salary wouldn't that be alright?

One teacher with seniority is currently making equivalent to or more than two working parents. And our tax bills rise ...

To think its the teacher earning 60k (about half whats needed to live on LI) thats breaking the bank is crazy..theyre an easy enough target though.

Crooks

[Chrisk327]

I guess I'm not in shock over 81k for someone with 5 years experience. maybe a little high, but at 81k, without another income, he can't buy a house.

Everyone seems to focus on salaries, which may be a little high, but pensions and health insurance are really where the compensation is, along with the perks and special days off.

However, even killing those won't save much. Really the administration of all those little districts is what is killing our bills. seperate payroll, procuring, AP departments. many superintendents, assistant supers, etc etc. the redundancy is killing it

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

To think its the teacher earning 60k (about half whats needed to live on LI) thats breaking the bank is crazy..theyre an easy enough target though.

Crooks

It's a large part of what's breaking the property tax bank.

What teachers on LI stay at $60K their whole career?

Oh I forgot about private schools ... well they aren't the ones where our tax money is going.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by Chrisk327

I guess I'm not in shock over 81k for someone with 5 years experience. maybe a little high, but at 81k, without another income, he can't buy a house.

Everyone seems to focus on salaries, which may be a little high, but pensions and health insurance are really where the compensation is, along with the perks and special days off.

However, even killing those won't save much. Really the administration of all those little districts is what is killing our bills. seperate payroll, procuring, AP departments. many superintendents, assistant supers, etc etc. the redundancy is killing it

Agreed, thats whiy I suggested merging the districts to increase buying power and lower overhead and eliminate redundant Sups.

81k is really a pittance for 5 years experience and a Masters when you can earn almost 100k w a GED as SCPD ( not to mention the Pension and Golden Parachute)
Suffolk County Police Dept (http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/police/recruitment.htm - broken link)

The argument has always been "We'll they gotta afford to live here'.

Not to bash but if you want to know what the true cost of living is anywhere, check the pay of the Police.

Id like to see us move to more State Troopers too.

Crooks

[dman72]

Originally Posted by Chrisk327

I guess I'm not in shock over 81k for someone with 5 years experience. maybe a little high, but at 81k, without another income, he can't buy a house.

Everyone seems to focus on salaries, which may be a little high, but pensions and health insurance are really where the compensation is, along with the perks and special days off.

However, even killing those won't save much. Really the administration of all those little districts is what is killing our bills. seperate payroll, procuring, AP departments. many superintendents, assistant supers, etc etc. the redundancy is killing it

He probably could buy a small house on his own, and if the person he marries has a similar job, they'd be in decent shape.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

Don't forget about pensions. It may be the single biggest issue that state and local municipalities face today, and some places, like California, this ticking time bomb has already exploded. New York is just starting to admit the problem, but so far not a single "sustainable" solution has been implemented, just short term fixes, that actually cost the county MORE in the long run. It will come to a head eventually.

I know a retired local bus driver who told me his pension was based off his last 1-2 years salary, so he just worked a ton of overtime. He's relatively young and with people living to like 90+ these days, he will cost those taxpayers for a looong time. Now if thats the bus driver, just think all the fire, MTA, police whatever, that have been able to get in this kind of thing. It was swept under the rug due to high returns in the stock market for the last 20 years, but all these Pensions are now scrambling to pay these huge obligations. There is insurance for them, but it would never cover the losses - this could be a future bailout scenario and I think Paterson is calling special session about this very issue. I'm sure LI has it's own share of this problem.

How come it was so easy for private industry to shrug off the responsibility of pensions to the point that there practically are no pensions in private industry and the employees are expected to save for retirement on their own (with an OPTIONAL NOT MANDATORY contribution from their employer)?

Yet the public sector, which does not make a profit, but is a total cost center paid for by the taxpayers and actually has a reason to stop pensions (taxes cannot support them anymore) and switch to employee 401(k)s, does not follow suit.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Agreed, thats whiy I suggested merging the districts to increase buying power and lower overhead and eliminate redundant Sups.

81k is really a pittance for 5 years experience and a Masters when you can earn almost 100k w a GED as SCPD ( not to mention the Pension and Golden Parachute)
Suffolk County Police Dept (http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/police/recruitment.htm - broken link)

Id like to see us move to more State Troopers too.

Crooks

$100K with a GED has got to change too.

Unfortunately though, the thing is the POLICE only account for a fraction of our property taxes. The 800-lb. gorillas in the room when it comes to property taxes are the school districts.