Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Let me clue you in on something - sure existing contracts are not abrogated - not yet anyway. As for the burden falling on items that can be reduced and non-mandatory - that is always the case, you cut those first, but then when you can no longer cut that because it no longer exists, guess what comes next? The taxpayer should not be fooled into thinking that contracts can not be renegotiated - it's easy to spend other people's money, the problem comes when you run out of it. Then what? "It can't be abrogated", yeah right, contracts are broken every day - this is America, not a socialist country. You want that, go to France - viva la liberte!!!!
Thanks for "cluing me in" but it's clear that I'm not the one lacking a clue. The fact is that according to State and federal law, unilaterally abrogating a contract that has no sch provision is an actionable action. Regarding a labor contract, it may also be a violation of law. Yes, "contracts are broken every day" and lawsuits against those breaking them happen every day too.
Regarding, cutting mandated items, there are programs that cannot be cut. Services for the handicapped are required by law and cannot be cut.
I don't know what to make of that "Socialism" rant. It's appears to be mindless blather. If following the laws of the land is Socialism, call me comrade.
The new contract issn't up on the seethroughny.com website but the contract that expired in 2007 has steps of 4.3% each year with a 3.5% for a total of 7.8% each year for the 4 years of the contract. Also teachers pay 15% of the health premium. I saw that they paid a community liason, TV technicians, etc.
They may have just rolled over the old contract, when does the current contract expire?
I personally questioned why the contract was missing and according to Seethroughny they requested the budget be transmiited via a method the district was unable/unwilling to comply with.
The contract was renogiated and improved upon by the union, in fact all contarcts were done at taht time. The district contracts (5) are all due for negotiations this July 1.
I live in the Kings Park School District and I would love to vote the budget down. I am a person who is all for the tax cap. When Newsday printed a report about 2 months ago wherein the governor was cutting back funds to the schools, it said Kings Park was one of the schools in jeopardy with their reserve funds.
I typed into google search "kings park school budget vote" and came across an article from the Times of Smithtown wherein it states that KP district adopted a budget of $79,111,079 which requires a 2.92% tax levy increase. After reading the article, it states that it will eliminate 24 teaching positions, 3 assistant coaches, a payroll supervisor, one bus driver; the after-school and midday buses and two cafeteria aides, possibly at Parkview Elementary.
My concern is that the state as of last summer stated they would fund our elementary schools to get full day kindergarten starting in 2011. My concern about voting down the budget is that we will not have the funds to keep the full day kindergarten. Full day kindergarten really helps when parents work f/t themselves...which today is the majority of both parents. Granted, my child will not be in the district until 2016 but should I be so concerned now about full day kindergarten not being implemented if the school budget fails? The article also goes on to say that if this budget of 2.92% fails, they have a contignent budget of 2.75% instead. Big deal, like it's that much more different in percentage! In reality, I'm really confused about voting the budget down. My first thought was definitely b/c taxes are outrageous...but now after worrying about f/t kindergarten not being implemented..I'm on the fence about what to do. These teachers need to realize that the tax payers cannot afford their salaries, pensions, health insurance and all the other benefits they have. I have 2 people in my family who are teachers and they are not for the tax cap b/c they are teachers...figures, right? They don't have a problem affording their taxes b/c they are raking in the dough! The little people..who pay their salaries aren't in the same boat as them. Long Island is crazy!
If anyone from Kings Park is interested in the article see link below.
You should call your district's business supt to get some facts. A contingency budget, which is what happens when voters don't pass a budget, has certain restrictions and percentages that must be followed. So while more items are being cut, the actual tax increase may not be very different.
Full day K shouldn't be in existence just because parents have to work! I believe it is important for the children's education, as skills seem to have been pushed down from 1st grade to Kindergarten for several years now. My district has cut back from full day to half day and parents are in an uproar over it. I don't blame them for being upset. The problem is going to be next year, or whenever they want to reinstate full day, it's going to cost so much more to get it back!
I personally questioned why the contract was missing and according to Seethroughny they requested the budget be transmiited via a method the district was unable/unwilling to comply with.
The contract was renogiated and improved upon by the union, in fact all contarcts were done at taht time. The district contracts (5) are all due for negotiations this July 1.
If those contracts expire July 1st then they are all being negotiated now. You should contact your business office and find out the status. By the way you can ask for a copy of the current contract, I would be willing to bet its just a repeat of the prior one with some minor changes.
The truth of this statement is debatable but also irrelevant in the context of the annual budget vote. If the budget is voted down, teacher's salaries will not diminish. Existing contracts are not abrogated.
What will happen is that the burden falls on the items that can be reduced and are non-mandatory. That means that sports and extracurricular activities are first on the hit-list. The board may be forced to lay-off workers, which may include teachers. The result is fewer services and larger class sizes.
The fact is that there has been a revenue squeeze on all levels of government causing each to reduce aide. That means that school district support is lower and that money must either be raised in taxes or services must be cut.
Plainedge went into austerity a number of years ago and the sports parents managed to raise the funds to reinstate the programs. A number of them cited the potential scholarships their athletes might be eligible for. Sorry, but why should the entire district foot the bill for a few potential athletic scholarships? Would those same parents be willing to pay extra in their taxes to support a dance program so talented dancers have a shot at a few potential scholarships?
I can understand your plight but what happens to your home value when your district can only increase the budget by 1% under contingency but the increase in costs (or drop in State aide) accounts for 4%? The schools need to cut services. If you do that year after year then your schools end up like a car whose owner refuses to spend money on maintenance. It deteriorates.
Home buyers don't want to move to areas with deteriorating schools. You home value will suffer.
Homebuyers don't want to move to areas with exhorbitant taxes, either. Property values with suffer if taxes become too onerous.
Homebuyers don't want to move to areas with exhorbitant taxes, either. Property values with suffer if taxes become too onerous.
I totally agree with you. When I was looking for a home, I wanted to stay in the Bethpage area. I really wanted Bethpage schools but the houses were more $$. Bethpage homes are part of the Plainedge School District and the taxes were astronomical! Hence, I crossed Plainedge Schools off my list b/c the taxes alone were $10k and above. I really don't know how people afford those kind of taxes. That's insane!
You should call your district's business supt to get some facts. A contingency budget, which is what happens when voters don't pass a budget, has certain restrictions and percentages that must be followed. So while more items are being cut, the actual tax increase may not be very different.
Full day K shouldn't be in existence just because parents have to work! I believe it is important for the children's education, as skills seem to have been pushed down from 1st grade to Kindergarten for several years now. My district has cut back from full day to half day and parents are in an uproar over it. I don't blame them for being upset. The problem is going to be next year, or whenever they want to reinstate full day, it's going to cost so much more to get it back!
I do agree with you that full day kindergarten is good for a child's education as well. My concern aside from that is I don't work close to home and I work f/t and I don't know what I would do with half day kindergarten. I don't have family that close in my area..so yes, full day kindergarten is a concern for me as well b/c I also work f/t and don't have the benefit of coming home during the day. But I do agree with you that it will also help their education. Most people in my neighborhood send their children to a catholic school by my house for full day kindergarten. I was excited when I heard Kings Park schools was implementing full day kindergarten into the school system. After all, we pay enough taxes that we should have full day kindergarten anyway. Half day kindergarten reminds me of way back when in the 1970's when I attended school.
Thanks for "cluing me in" but it's clear that I'm not the one lacking a clue. The fact is that according to State and federal law, unilaterally abrogating a contract that has no sch provision is an actionable action. Regarding a labor contract, it may also be a violation of law. Yes, "contracts are broken every day" and lawsuits against those breaking them happen every day too.
Regarding, cutting mandated items, there are programs that cannot be cut. Services for the handicapped are required by law and cannot be cut.
I don't know what to make of that "Socialism" rant. It's appears to be mindless blather. If following the laws of the land is Socialism, call me comrade.
Lawsuits can be tied up in the courts for years - the real question is just how long do you have to live while this battle is going on and who is going to provide goods and services to people based on the potential outcome of a lawsuit?
You can require anything you want by law - but there is a saying, you can't draw water from a stone. One can say it's actionable, but tell us, assuming the court finds in favor of plaintiff - how will you collect if there is nothing to collect? Funny thing about this country - there are so many attorneys that we can tie this thing up in the courts for decades, now as a retiree how long do you have? The smart move is to settle, but try and go for full value......
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Funny thing about this country - there are so many attorneys that we can tie this thing up in the courts for decades, now as a retiree how long do you have? The smart move is to settle, but try and go for full value......
