myself. i believe if they would go through all state offices and clear out the deadwood and secreteries having secreteries and hiring people back parttime after they retired that would help a lot. just my opinion.
What people fail to realize is that cutting education programs such as pre-k (that they have been talking about) will cost more money down the road. Pre-k isn't just the programs at your local school, it's programs like Rainbow Preschool and different aba therapies they provide to help disabled/autistic children. Without this early intervention/training these children don't advance as well and lose a shot at a possible "normal" adulthood. Thus costing us the tax payers more money when they are older to care for them with group homes/medicaid etc. It's more expensive to care for an adult 24 hrs a day in a group home then providing training/coping/life skills to these children at the best time to help them when they learn the most.
Mabey they could keep the programs, and find a way to provide the same services at a cheaper cost to the taxpayer. They should be trimming the deadwood from all government programs.
There is much fat that needs to be trimmed from the NYS public school system. Taxpayers have been duped into thinking that children need Wi-Fi access in every classroom, electronic whiteboards instead of chalkboards, new school buildings which cost millions to build and look like they were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The 1.5% cut to public schools across the board did not seem unreasonable to me, given that the state is facing bankruptcy. Some people insist upon eating NY strip steak when perhaps hamburgers are all we can afford.
According to Speaker Silver's office, not a single bill concerning budget reduction has made it to the floor of the Assembly. In fact, his staff member questioned why I expected otherwise. ...As she explained the system workings, there will be no debate on optional bills; there will be no alternatives. Why? Because any budget bill must be printed in entirety (1,000 copies) and sit around for three days before it can be voted on.
Each Assemblyman has to weigh in on his/her pet projects. That precludes any simple, across the board cut being implemented. The result will be a complete overhaul of the existing budget. How long do we normally wait for an annual budget?!
Why should the fix be so complicated- other than to discourage fixing. From a managerial point of view, this should be simple. 10% reduction in supply and new equipment purchases. Freeze on new, non-maintenance construction. Freeze on new hiring. Freeze on travel reimbursements. Directive on building temperature: 68 degrees occupied/62 unoccupied. Re-open contracts to freeze wages and increase contributions to health insurance.
Tell public agencies they have less money; they will find ways to make do.
This doesn't have to be about curtailing services and laying off workers. One way or another, we end up paying. This is about defeating a learning curve that starts and ends with politicians. Status quo doesn't work. We need to break it.
Here's a letter from Hypocrite Hawley, a response to my email, dated Nov. 20.
Dear Mr. Barons,
Thank you for taking the time to write regarding the Governor's proposed cuts for the 2009-10 state budget.
I have called for action over the last week to address this growing budget crisis and neither the Assembly nor Senate majority leaders are willing to draft legislation to close the gap. I will be returning to Albany on Monday in hopes that the leaders will take this crisis seriously. The Governor and the Assembly minority have both independently developed plans to reduce the states (SIC) budget and are fully willing to look at some serious cuts to get this state back on the right track.
Rest assured I will fight to maintain program funding for education including youth, elderly, and the disabled during this difficult time. I do not believe that the most vulnerable segments of our population should suffer because of poor planning and overspending by the governor and those legislators who supported 2009-10 budget.
Again, thank you for writing and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in the future.
Sincerely,
Steve Hawley
So what is he saying? Blame somebody else. I'm waiting for someone else to do something. I'll fight to keep spending money.
NY spends more per student than ANY other state. Yet we have one of the lowest graduation rates in the country.
NY government's philosophy "if it's broke, simply throw more money at it - and if it's not broke, throwing more money at it will make it work even better" has gotten us into the fiscal crises we are in.
As wage earners and taxpayers, we do not have a bottomless billfold. It's time Albany realizes they don't either.
Side note: My wife works for the state (yes WORKS) and as such is required to belong to the CSEA. She and her coworkers have come up with a list of ridiculous benefits that they would gladly give up. Nobody listens.
She is not "required" to belong to CSEA. However, her shop is probably an agency shop- she must pay an agency fee for being represented by CSEA. CSEA being the collective representative of all titles named in the contract she works under. The agency fee is equal to membership dues. Therefore it is prudent to be a member. Members and non-members pay the same, yet only members can speak out or be officers. Agency fee workers can vote on contracts, however. Anyone who told her that she is "required" to be a member is wrong.
Bob I agree with your comments,we over spend on education and get nothing for it...Last audit of the Batavia School District had over 7 million in reserves and out of 17 salaries audited 14 were over paid by mistake....Just think if they audited all the salaries..Who will be fired over any of this..NO ONE..Do you think they are going to give any of this back to us..There is plenty of fat in the schools that can be cut,so yes they should cut..The unions got a hold of the school system and they won't let go..They will lobby hard for no cuts,and will do it in the name of the children...When it is all about bloated school districts with to many extra union employees ......Batavia is a prime example.....Barbara J. Kapperman and Scott Rozanski should go....
Pre k, free breakfast, free lunch, so many social programs for a shrinking job base......
Manufacturing is shrinking.....as well as our job base......fix what needs fixing first......we need jobs to pay for these programs.....
Fix nafta, free trade is robbing us of our ability to fund education.....so for right now lets fund education not free programs...
We should and have the right to feed our own families before feeding someone else’s
The number of people voting against cutting schools only demonstrates what Charlie is always talking about -- voters are not willing to make the painful decisions necessary -- they won't cut their own programs. They'll vote to cut programs that don't impact them, but if its something they like, they won't cut it.
To me, cutting education budgets dramatically -- not only because of the deficit, but because high taxes kill jobs (ironic, isn't it, educate kids for jobs that won't exist because of high taxes) -- seems like a no brainer.
And aren't we subsidizing states like North Carolina and Georgia that spend much less per student, but reap the rewards when our NY educated children move there for job opportunities?
Why don't they cut welfare and all this public assistance?How come they always go for education and health-I'd say let's cut some assemblymen,legisltors,senators also! Remember folks,we shouldn't be cutting teachers in this day and age-plus having computers/electronic communication is almost a necessity in this day and age. I'd say let's put the "special" kids all together like it used to be,instead of trying to "integrate" them with everyone else-everyone suffers.You know what happens if they cut school/health-our taxes will go up-same old song and dance.The only way we will ever have more money in our pocket is to move out of this state!
Nice going, Howard! One poll on school funding cuts, and they're marching into the divide-and-conquer hands of the politicians. Heck- you even got a, "Why don't they cut welfare?" Haven't heard that chestnut since Reagan was in office.
Make sure the Nikon is working when you fit nose staples and elastrators.
The State is worried about cutting expenses, but yet after the NYS Assembly voted "NAY" on the "NEW" NYS vehicle plates. The State keeps buying material and producing the plates by using the NYS Correctional Department Prisoners. Why is the State still manufacturing these plates? Let's cut politicians' ability to use tax dollars to have a plane fly them from their H.O.R to their office or Albany. Heck they give themselves enough raises and for what? A late budget on a yearly bases? Being in the military, I am allowed so much per mile to offset my cost to travel.
John,
The Dept. of Corrections (DOCS) makes license plates all the time for new cars, used cars, vanity plates and the like. They also make plates for others states. It's one of the few things they do that makes money.
thanks for the info, CM, but as you state: she would have to pay the same amount without the benefits. I wonder who came up with that incentive????
On to benefits. Let's start with paid holidays. 13 per year. 13! Plus 96 hours sick time, 40 hours/year personal time. These are not based on time in position - they are yours the day you sign on. Then you add on vacation time (based on length of service). They wouldn't give everything up, obviously, but almost all agree that if all state employees gave up even 1 day off, it would have a HUGE impact on the budget.
Now more good news. She was notified today that our health insurance is going up $120/month! For two people. I called MVP and they tell me that govenor Dave has placed a 15% surcharge (not a tax) on every insured person in NY. This is just what MVP (Preferred Care)says. Will be researching further.
Wonder what the 5 top items are that put NY in such a bind.....and are there any politician capable,
let say to crack a whooping on those who live off us with their
Shameful mooching
news flash...john Kerry proposes .....the u. s. should
put 3 billion in next yrs budget to help developing nations with climate change....what's next....federal dollars to help pay for foreigners abortions....wait
Obama already did that
Re: Mr. Price previous comment
Have you been involved with any of these "special" children in an integrated situation? There are many benefits to both the "special" children and the other "normal" students when it is done correctly.
This may sound crazy but didn't they see this coming? Why did they wait until the state was drowning before oh no we need to do something? It should have been an urgent matter months ago.
Robin - I agree with you completely regarding Mr. Price's comments about putting the "special" kids all together like it used to be,instead of trying to "integrate" them with everyone else. My daughter was in a "mixed" classroom for 2 years. They take some of the kids who generally do very well in school and team them up with kids who need a little extra help and guess what? - they all thrive. It's a well known fact that children learn by teaching so when my daughter was paired with a student who needed a little extra help, they worked together to the benefit of both children. Not only did my daughter learn academically but she learned empathy which is worth more to me than all of the A's on her report card.
Beth, don't be silly. Empathy is a term used by rabid, drooling liberals such as yourself. Schools shouldn't be teaching kids life skills along with math and science, that's just a waste of my hard earned dollars.
Mr. Charvella I think you missed the point (if money is all your concerned about). Teaching these special needs kids in these types of settings they learn and succeed more then in a special ed setting with all low functioning children. Think of the big picture. It is a scientific fact that these children learn more and retain more when they are young. Trying to educate them when they are older is a much longer, harder process and thus costing you (and me) more money in the long run.
What do you think? Just throw them all in a special ed class or better yet an institution and just have them maybe get by? Guess what that costs more money than integrating them into regular ed classes do. It costs far less money when they are young. Then as adults they need far less assistance. Autistic children for example have about a normal life span. Think of the cost then!
And no I do not work in the education system.
myself. i believe if they
myself. i believe if they would go through all state offices and clear out the deadwood and secreteries having secreteries and hiring people back parttime after they retired that would help a lot. just my opinion.
What people fail to realize
What people fail to realize is that cutting education programs such as pre-k (that they have been talking about) will cost more money down the road. Pre-k isn't just the programs at your local school, it's programs like Rainbow Preschool and different aba therapies they provide to help disabled/autistic children. Without this early intervention/training these children don't advance as well and lose a shot at a possible "normal" adulthood. Thus costing us the tax payers more money when they are older to care for them with group homes/medicaid etc. It's more expensive to care for an adult 24 hrs a day in a group home then providing training/coping/life skills to these children at the best time to help them when they learn the most.
Mabey they could keep the
Mabey they could keep the programs, and find a way to provide the same services at a cheaper cost to the taxpayer. They should be trimming the deadwood from all government programs.
There is much fat that needs
There is much fat that needs to be trimmed from the NYS public school system. Taxpayers have been duped into thinking that children need Wi-Fi access in every classroom, electronic whiteboards instead of chalkboards, new school buildings which cost millions to build and look like they were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The 1.5% cut to public schools across the board did not seem unreasonable to me, given that the state is facing bankruptcy. Some people insist upon eating NY strip steak when perhaps hamburgers are all we can afford.
According to Speaker Silver's
According to Speaker Silver's office, not a single bill concerning budget reduction has made it to the floor of the Assembly. In fact, his staff member questioned why I expected otherwise. ...As she explained the system workings, there will be no debate on optional bills; there will be no alternatives. Why? Because any budget bill must be printed in entirety (1,000 copies) and sit around for three days before it can be voted on.
Each Assemblyman has to weigh in on his/her pet projects. That precludes any simple, across the board cut being implemented. The result will be a complete overhaul of the existing budget. How long do we normally wait for an annual budget?!
Why should the fix be so complicated- other than to discourage fixing. From a managerial point of view, this should be simple. 10% reduction in supply and new equipment purchases. Freeze on new, non-maintenance construction. Freeze on new hiring. Freeze on travel reimbursements. Directive on building temperature: 68 degrees occupied/62 unoccupied. Re-open contracts to freeze wages and increase contributions to health insurance.
Tell public agencies they have less money; they will find ways to make do.
This doesn't have to be about curtailing services and laying off workers. One way or another, we end up paying. This is about defeating a learning curve that starts and ends with politicians. Status quo doesn't work. We need to break it.
Here's a letter from Hypocrite Hawley, a response to my email, dated Nov. 20.
Dear Mr. Barons,
Thank you for taking the time to write regarding the Governor's proposed cuts for the 2009-10 state budget.
I have called for action over the last week to address this growing budget crisis and neither the Assembly nor Senate majority leaders are willing to draft legislation to close the gap. I will be returning to Albany on Monday in hopes that the leaders will take this crisis seriously. The Governor and the Assembly minority have both independently developed plans to reduce the states (SIC) budget and are fully willing to look at some serious cuts to get this state back on the right track.
Rest assured I will fight to maintain program funding for education including youth, elderly, and the disabled during this difficult time. I do not believe that the most vulnerable segments of our population should suffer because of poor planning and overspending by the governor and those legislators who supported 2009-10 budget.
Again, thank you for writing and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in the future.
Sincerely,
Steve Hawley
So what is he saying? Blame somebody else. I'm waiting for someone else to do something. I'll fight to keep spending money.
Don't expect any solutions- fast or otherwise.
NY spends more per student
NY spends more per student than ANY other state. Yet we have one of the lowest graduation rates in the country.
NY government's philosophy "if it's broke, simply throw more money at it - and if it's not broke, throwing more money at it will make it work even better" has gotten us into the fiscal crises we are in.
As wage earners and taxpayers, we do not have a bottomless billfold. It's time Albany realizes they don't either.
Side note: My wife works for the state (yes WORKS) and as such is required to belong to the CSEA. She and her coworkers have come up with a list of ridiculous benefits that they would gladly give up. Nobody listens.
Danny Donahugh! Get a job!
She is not "required" to
She is not "required" to belong to CSEA. However, her shop is probably an agency shop- she must pay an agency fee for being represented by CSEA. CSEA being the collective representative of all titles named in the contract she works under. The agency fee is equal to membership dues. Therefore it is prudent to be a member. Members and non-members pay the same, yet only members can speak out or be officers. Agency fee workers can vote on contracts, however. Anyone who told her that she is "required" to be a member is wrong.
Bob, C.M. is right, she is
Bob,
C.M. is right, she is not required to belong to a union. But, what were the benefits she would give up?
Bob I agree with your
Bob I agree with your comments,we over spend on education and get nothing for it...Last audit of the Batavia School District had over 7 million in reserves and out of 17 salaries audited 14 were over paid by mistake....Just think if they audited all the salaries..Who will be fired over any of this..NO ONE..Do you think they are going to give any of this back to us..There is plenty of fat in the schools that can be cut,so yes they should cut..The unions got a hold of the school system and they won't let go..They will lobby hard for no cuts,and will do it in the name of the children...When it is all about bloated school districts with to many extra union employees ......Batavia is a prime example.....Barbara J. Kapperman and Scott Rozanski should go....
Pre k, free breakfast, free
Pre k, free breakfast, free lunch, so many social programs for a shrinking job base......
Manufacturing is shrinking.....as well as our job base......fix what needs fixing first......we need jobs to pay for these programs.....
Fix nafta, free trade is robbing us of our ability to fund education.....so for right now lets fund education not free programs...
We should and have the right to feed our own families before feeding someone else’s
The number of people voting
The number of people voting against cutting schools only demonstrates what Charlie is always talking about -- voters are not willing to make the painful decisions necessary -- they won't cut their own programs. They'll vote to cut programs that don't impact them, but if its something they like, they won't cut it.
To me, cutting education budgets dramatically -- not only because of the deficit, but because high taxes kill jobs (ironic, isn't it, educate kids for jobs that won't exist because of high taxes) -- seems like a no brainer.
And aren't we subsidizing
And aren't we subsidizing states like North Carolina and Georgia that spend much less per student, but reap the rewards when our NY educated children move there for job opportunities?
its a no brainer jobs are
its a no brainer jobs are leaving ny , the u.s.a
look at lapp insulator 20 more jobs gone this week.
cummings 450 jobs....
Why don't they cut welfare
Why don't they cut welfare and all this public assistance?How come they always go for education and health-I'd say let's cut some assemblymen,legisltors,senators also! Remember folks,we shouldn't be cutting teachers in this day and age-plus having computers/electronic communication is almost a necessity in this day and age. I'd say let's put the "special" kids all together like it used to be,instead of trying to "integrate" them with everyone else-everyone suffers.You know what happens if they cut school/health-our taxes will go up-same old song and dance.The only way we will ever have more money in our pocket is to move out of this state!
North Carolina aggressively
North Carolina aggressively attracts the manufacturing,
Threw incentives....
NY drives them away
bob hits on a real good point
bob hits on a real good point
Nice going, Howard! One poll
Nice going, Howard! One poll on school funding cuts, and they're marching into the divide-and-conquer hands of the politicians. Heck- you even got a, "Why don't they cut welfare?" Haven't heard that chestnut since Reagan was in office.
Make sure the Nikon is working when you fit nose staples and elastrators.
The State is worried about
The State is worried about cutting expenses, but yet after the NYS Assembly voted "NAY" on the "NEW" NYS vehicle plates. The State keeps buying material and producing the plates by using the NYS Correctional Department Prisoners. Why is the State still manufacturing these plates? Let's cut politicians' ability to use tax dollars to have a plane fly them from their H.O.R to their office or Albany. Heck they give themselves enough raises and for what? A late budget on a yearly bases? Being in the military, I am allowed so much per mile to offset my cost to travel.
John, The Dept. of
John,
The Dept. of Corrections (DOCS) makes license plates all the time for new cars, used cars, vanity plates and the like. They also make plates for others states. It's one of the few things they do that makes money.
Bob, I agree with you 100%
Bob,
I agree with you 100% welfare and public assistance is the most abused system in the state.
thanks for the info, CM, but
thanks for the info, CM, but as you state: she would have to pay the same amount without the benefits. I wonder who came up with that incentive????
On to benefits. Let's start with paid holidays. 13 per year. 13! Plus 96 hours sick time, 40 hours/year personal time. These are not based on time in position - they are yours the day you sign on. Then you add on vacation time (based on length of service). They wouldn't give everything up, obviously, but almost all agree that if all state employees gave up even 1 day off, it would have a HUGE impact on the budget.
Now more good news. She was notified today that our health insurance is going up $120/month! For two people. I called MVP and they tell me that govenor Dave has placed a 15% surcharge (not a tax) on every insured person in NY. This is just what MVP (Preferred Care)says. Will be researching further.
Wonder what the 5 top items
Wonder what the 5 top items are that put NY in such a bind.....and are there any politician capable,
let say to crack a whooping on those who live off us with their
Shameful mooching
news flash...john Kerry
news flash...john Kerry proposes .....the u. s. should
put 3 billion in next yrs budget to help developing nations with climate change....what's next....federal dollars to help pay for foreigners abortions....wait
Obama already did that
Re: Mr. Price previous
Re: Mr. Price previous comment
Have you been involved with any of these "special" children in an integrated situation? There are many benefits to both the "special" children and the other "normal" students when it is done correctly.
This may sound crazy but
This may sound crazy but didn't they see this coming? Why did they wait until the state was drowning before oh no we need to do something? It should have been an urgent matter months ago.
I've been hearing about this
I've been hearing about this looming budget crisis for six months, maybe longer.
Robin - I agree with you
Robin - I agree with you completely regarding Mr. Price's comments about putting the "special" kids all together like it used to be,instead of trying to "integrate" them with everyone else. My daughter was in a "mixed" classroom for 2 years. They take some of the kids who generally do very well in school and team them up with kids who need a little extra help and guess what? - they all thrive. It's a well known fact that children learn by teaching so when my daughter was paired with a student who needed a little extra help, they worked together to the benefit of both children. Not only did my daughter learn academically but she learned empathy which is worth more to me than all of the A's on her report card.
Beth, don't be silly.
Beth, don't be silly. Empathy is a term used by rabid, drooling liberals such as yourself. Schools shouldn't be teaching kids life skills along with math and science, that's just a waste of my hard earned dollars.
yep, hearing about it for
yep, hearing about it for months but it seems that they waited until oops the budget is shot before really, really doing something about it.
Mr. Charvella I think you
Mr. Charvella I think you missed the point (if money is all your concerned about). Teaching these special needs kids in these types of settings they learn and succeed more then in a special ed setting with all low functioning children. Think of the big picture. It is a scientific fact that these children learn more and retain more when they are young. Trying to educate them when they are older is a much longer, harder process and thus costing you (and me) more money in the long run.
What do you think? Just throw them all in a special ed class or better yet an institution and just have them maybe get by? Guess what that costs more money than integrating them into regular ed classes do. It costs far less money when they are young. Then as adults they need far less assistance. Autistic children for example have about a normal life span. Think of the cost then!
And no I do not work in the education system.
Robin - I know Chris well
Robin - I know Chris well enough to know that he feels like you and I do about this issue. Just a little sarcasm.
Robin, the smirk was implied
Robin, the smirk was implied :)