Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 21:18:38 -0400
From: “Tom Glendinning”
Subject: Re: Karen Crowell – teacher bonuses
Fishing for votes means that you should have the right bait.
The tax increase of which you speak is really a growth in sales tax revenue.. It is not a hike in the local option sales tax itself. Please be factual rather than inferring a non-truth.
The current commissioners, which means the three conservative elected in 2010 and who votes with them, have not spent any more of our money since 2010.. The budget and actual spending has remained the same. That means that our taxes have not gone up and actually have a chance to be reduced, if prices ever stabilize. Example: gasoline was $1.80 in 2008. It is now $3.60. That is a significant part of every budget and causes all prices to rise.
The fiscal criticism is poorly founded further because the Chatham’s budget grew by 130% in the previous ten years, 2000-2010. It has grown 0% in the last three.
Chatham is doing its part to reward teachers. The local supplement to the regular pay of the state is the sixth highest in North Carolina. And we are not a rich county. We do revere our teachers.
A bonus is not a pay increase. It is a bonus, a one time event. For those who have jobs, benefits and some security, please compare with those who do not. Complaining about “not enough” when many have nothing is self indulgent, elitist and pity pot material. Of course, it could be just another campaign slogan.
Now for the big issue, the economy. You cite 2009 as the end of the state teacher bonus program. I hate to remind you that a crash occured the year before which forced budget cuts everywhere. The crash was the worst in recent history, comparable to events of 1929-1932. The stock market(DJIA) dropped over 55% in a short period. There was little good economic news and no reliable forecast for recovery. (Discussion of causes left out) If the legislature did not cut something, it would have forced the state to declare insolvency. Polls indicate that most people place economic recovery two years away or longer and have for five years. Thank God we have stabilized, though the future seems unsure.
Ms. Atkinson must have a global understanding of the function of salaries and bonuses. Mr. Jewel, representing what amounts to a teacher’s union, does not. He criticizes the actions of one county, trying to show gratitude to its teachers.
Yet he says nothing about the state pay hike and shows no appreciation for it.
The old legislature was dominated by democrats, so pointing at republicans after the fact is not truthful. In fact, that previous legislature handed the new one a large shortfall which was eventually covered by a special bill. As I recall, part of the law passed made up for the flawed budget which carried over a one time federal grant as a part of the regular budget. Next year’s state budget gives teachers a pay increase. Yet we are still in a very doubtful period economically. Imagine that.
If the only criticism you can make is that a one time bonus is not being perpetuated at a time when teachers get a pay raise, then the point is moot. Moot, the sound of an elk call cut short.
Tom Glendinning
“It takes an intelligent fool to make things bigger and more complex……….. It takes a touch of genius to move in the opposite direction”
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.–Wayne Gretzky