<p>Yes, I live in NY. And yes, my property taxes are VERY high.</p>
<p>I have never found those figures to be an accurate assessment of wealth of an area.</p>
<p>dstark not really. There are outrages in some pensions. I get tired of arguments based on envy, half truths or outright distortions. </p>
<p>If someone did actual research knew all the rules and the entirety of the circumstances and based their arguments on those factors when they criticize pensions (specific pensions because they are all different) then we can have a valid discussion. In some instances I would probably agree with them. It is the blanket statement and the blame the teachers I do not agree with. The teachers pensions are not lucrative but teachers are a large number so that cost is high in total.</p>
<p>The older teachers are in a tier which provides a very generous pension. I think the problem is the inefficiencies in the system which cause the cost of the entire pension pool to be high. Such as having an administration system for each school district. The administration salaries for superintendents is VERY high many above $250,000. Do we truly need so many superintendents to run an efficient school district? I think not. Consolidating school districts would help tremendously to reduce costs, allowing for bulk purchasing.</p>
<p>Simplystated, Well, those are the figures but I’m not going to lie and tell you that my town is teeming with poor people, because that would not be true. Generally, it attracts highly educated professional who work for the state, small business owners, doctors and lawyers and a few “Indian Chiefs.” </p>
<p>What I do know is that the school district is the reason people move here and they want to keep the school district at the top of the food chain, because their children benefit from that as does their net wealth, as our homes keep appreciating in value. There is no more land to build newer homes, either, so if you want to live here your choice is limited. So we pay high taxes and continue to vote yes on our school budget. I even sent my kid to private high school and I still enthusiastically vote yes on the budget.</p>
<p>I was referring to New York regarding the use of stipends to boost salaries for pension purposes.</p>
<p>What state adds on stipends for coaching, or clubs? And how much do these teachers get paid for them?</p>
<p>New York. Is this uncommon? Taking on a couple of clubs or other similar responsibilities could add $10,000 or so annually.</p>
<p>Emilybee, what you are saying supports my original assertion. Higher family income areas have much more disposable income. In that situation higher taxes will not affect homes prices. But I digress. The point is the majority of the property tax bill is school tax. School districts are run very inefficiently. I can not be called a teacher basher for expecting and demanding a more efficiently run system, especially when I can not shop elsewhere. </p>
<p>Please ccers do not say I can pick up my family and move elsewhere. The problem is not where I live but the inefficiency in the system.</p>
<p>When it comes to coaching, we are not able to hire coaches who are not teachers. It would be a lot cheaper to offer that job to a young adult looking for extra work at a lower cost. Put some competition into the equation. It is not necessary to be a certified teacher to coach a school team. </p>
<p>Yet another area where cost reduction could take place.</p>
<p>Cost blog…I’m in a neighboring state. I directed the high school musical…got paid $150 a year. I spent far more than that on thank you gifts for the other adults who worked with me. And that $150 did not get added to my salary…(stipend activities do NOT get added as salary for pension purposes in CT). </p>
<p>I know a varsity coach…coached three varsity sports. Total was NOT $10,000 for the year. And again…not added to salary for pension purposes.</p>
<p>“Please ccers do not say I can pick up my family and move elsewhere. The problem is not where I live but the inefficiency in the system.”</p>
<p>Then run for school board if you want change.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Why</a> New York?s future is fleeing | New York Post](<a href=“http://nypost.com/2011/05/24/why-new-yorks-future-is-fleeing/]Why”>Why New York’s future is fleeing)</p>
<p>Among the top states with an outflow of population are New Jersey, New York, and Illinois.</p>
<p>[The</a> States People Are Fleeing In 2013 - Forbes](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2013/02/07/the-states-people-are-fleeing-in-2013/]The”>The States People Are Fleeing In 2013)</p>
<p>thumper1 –
One teacher I know uses much of his annual stipend (probably around $4,000) to take club members out to meals before their tournaments. Many teachers are generous, caring, and experts in their fields. However, the system as it stands is dysfunctional, unsustainable, and actually works against the best teachers, IMO.</p>
<p>Emilybee, It would be nice if it was that simple. As you well know, the union is extremely powerful and I have no chance of effecting change by your suggestion. </p>
<p>I would be labeled a “Teacher basher” rather quickly and one who does not care about educating our kids. It only took a few posts on this thread to label me as such, which is far from the truth. I value education and would like to see a system which runs more efficiently.</p>
<p>“As you well know, the union is extremely powerful and I have no chance of effecting change by your suggestion.”</p>
<p>The union cannot prevent you from running for school board. Yes, you might be bashed and you probably would lose. So what?</p>
<p>The union cannot prevent you from running for school board. Yes, you might be bashed and you probably would lose. So what?</p>
<p>Many parents who still have children in the school district but who are unwilling to support every budget increase usually prefer to keep their views to themselves for fear of retaliation. I’m aware of at least two cases where things got very ugly for opponents of the status quo.</p>
<p>Not around here. Folks in opposition to BOE budgets are very vocal. In one neighboring town, they have been so vocal that they are not making their minimum pupil expenditure, and will likely run out of funds in May…when they will have to have a special referendum to pay for fixed costs until school ends. Property values are very low there. Great place to buy a 3000 sq ft Victorian for about $200,000. But you have to live there.</p>
<p>costblog, thanks for the Forbes article. My state (WI) is also in the top ten, probably thanks to its unique combination of high taxes and regressive (even draconian) policies–including a lot of teacher bashing. As one of my friends puts it, “it’s like Mississippi but with higher taxes.”</p>
<p>People with opposing viewpoints run all the time for elective office. If one is worried things might get “ugly” than the issue must not be important enough to them to make a stand. </p>
<p>One cannot effect change by doing nothing.</p>
<p>Some parents might be willing to sacrifice their childrens emotional well-being and academic success by taking a stand in a very public way, but I believe most parents choose to put their childrens welfare first and try to change the system in other ways.</p>
<p>^Then they should move to Thumper’s neighboring town.</p>