tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post2087338266225671763..comments2023-09-16T08:21:22.793-04:00Comments on Education Quick Takes: Local school budget estimated to increase taxes by 7%Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16355093065582134401noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-77197891772872018102011-05-14T09:08:16.633-04:002011-05-14T09:08:16.633-04:00Yeah, like state employee pensions - agree to them...Yeah, like state employee pensions - agree to them but don't fund them - that is where the whole problem came from. If the state had funded the pensions the way that private companies are required to, we wouldn't be in this mess.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08364766877630085946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-65881324764182419092011-05-13T13:42:31.565-04:002011-05-13T13:42:31.565-04:00Maybe it's because states might be able to get...Maybe it's because states might be able to get away with legislating something but not funding it.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355093065582134401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-54466963177182264532011-05-11T13:44:02.966-04:002011-05-11T13:44:02.966-04:00I wonder why the state governments could refuse to...I wonder why the state governments could refuse to fund raises back in the 90's? It certainly was not done in agreement with our union - in fact, in NJ, the union came close to voting to strike.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08364766877630085946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-70474499950800885792011-05-11T11:49:28.811-04:002011-05-11T11:49:28.811-04:00I had hoped our board would ask for concessions th...I had hoped our board would ask for concessions this year, but they did not.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355093065582134401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-71985141310990385372011-05-11T11:47:48.541-04:002011-05-11T11:47:48.541-04:00They could only cut compensation if the union agre...They could only cut compensation if the union agreed. I don't think they should, even if they could, simply refuse to fund wage costs. But I imagine there would be increased pressure for union concessions if kindergarten or other "basics" were to be cut due to budget constraints.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355093065582134401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-62066323137001870422011-05-11T10:35:11.629-04:002011-05-11T10:35:11.629-04:00They can't cut compensation costs because it i...They can't cut compensation costs because it is a contract. <br /><br />Although, I always wonder why they can't pull the sleight of hand that both NJ and CT pulled on us back when I was a state employee under a union contract - the state legislature simply refused to fund the raises. This happened to me in BOTH states! (this was during the recession of the early 90's). If states could do it then, why not now? BTW, it was very disheartening and was one of the big factors that drove me, and several other people in my department, out. Pulling tricks like that might work in the short term, but will drive the best people out.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08364766877630085946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-88009361494646872182011-05-11T09:03:10.972-04:002011-05-11T09:03:10.972-04:00Yes, I suspect it would be disastrous for many fam...Yes, I suspect it would be disastrous for many families.<br /><br />If the budget fails, the choice would be to cut student programs or to cut compensation costs. Actually, I think that's the real choice we have going forward because I don't think the tax increase trend is sustainable.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355093065582134401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206871834894179765.post-24119627537838837872011-05-11T08:47:03.026-04:002011-05-11T08:47:03.026-04:00If that budget doesn't pass, they may eliminat...If that budget doesn't pass, they may eliminate full day kindergarten, in which case we would be toast. Her current school does have fullday kindergarten (at 22,000 per year), but it is now too late in the year for her to be able to switch to that program. Unless the afterschool program expanded its hours to take the kindergarten kids in the early afternoon, one of us would have to quit our jobs. I suspect there are many in a similar situation.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08364766877630085946noreply@blogger.com