The Budget Situation

LOWER TAXES! STRETCHED BUDGETS! = Higher probability of teacher, salary and benefits reductions, especially with no resistance.

Although there are many people trying to keep this from happening, budget cuts are assuredly on their way. Due to the stimulus package coming to an end, and the new power shift in Raleigh and in Washington, tax cuts are already being recommended. This means that the tax on things such as cigarettes, beer, and other items, will be considered overburdening, I guess, and educator’s jobs and education budgets will be at high risk.

LEAs may be given the “control” of governing the answer to the cuts. Does that sound good, even with good management in the LEA? Can you imagine what a choice this is for counties and central administration? Without funding to support the budget, 5 to 10% cutbacks are predicted, in addition to the stimulus package coming to an end. I am afraid that the salary scale will be only a suggestion. Wake County has already announced huge cuts in educators will be necessary. One LEA was considering leveling pay to $40,000 despite education and experience, according to a report at our district meeting last week. As you know, this would be bankruptcy for many educators. There would be more stops on climbing to a higher rate of income before retirement, less new hires, and the list grows longer. Hopefully not, but would they try to decrease input to our retirement fund? People in non-government jobs are eyeballing our retirement with envy, even though the rate of income is lower than a lot of states. At a recent State Employees Credit Union meeting, I asked the people from the state offices to help us, or foreclosures by educators would be more numerous.

We, at NCAE and MCAE, do not want educators to panic. What good would that do any of us? We do have jobs at this time and we do have power in numbers. Whether your fellow faculty members or staff members are members or not, we owe them the “heads up” on this problem. We need to unite in force to save our jobs and careers! You got the email from June Atkinson’s office. The problem is here. We have to deal with it.

If you voted for new persons and they won, you are the ones that have the most influence on the current power group. All parties and all persons can lobby any public elected official. They are public servants and are representing their constituency. You might want to represent yourself to them. Do not be hoodwinked by complacency, for that has not been proven to be of any influence for change.

Executive board meeting is December 6, 2010 and all ARs may attend and all officers at 4pm in John deVille's classroom at FHS. We will have a general meeting with speakers, soon!

A member from S. Macon volunteered to go to Raleigh with me, today. Be thinking about what political action you will take and then take it.

Yours,

Rena O. Sutton, Secretary MCAE