Second of two parts
Re “Comparing Benefits: Social Security vs. CalSTRS”
As more boomer-aged educators retire, our state education system probably will continue to struggle to educate our next generation of students. Retiring educators need not worry, though, because the state budget already is skewed in their favor. Written within the state code, state retirees have a statute in place guaranteeing that their benefits receive top priority in state funding. Thereby, their benefits must be paid first, before state education is funded.
First Come, First Served
Without serious state pension reforms, even if Californians were to agree to pay higher taxes to cover the boomers’ pensions, we still could be looking at further state funding being diverted from K-12 education to prop up the CalSTRS, and even CalPERS, retirement systems. This major funding shift could lead to hiring fewer teachers across the state, bringing on bigger class sizes, and continued deterioration of school facilities.
Fortune Telling
The state Legislature already has prioritized spending $4 billion of the $6.9B of the newly passed Prop. 30 taxes to fund state employee pensions, leaving K-12 education without a state increase to local schools.
Worsening Step-and-Column Problem
If this new state funding priority is a sign of what’s to come, the ever-present, automatic Step-and- Column salary increases now given annually to School District employees eventually will place an even greater strain on our local budgets. That would mean the Step-and-Column payments would have to be renegotiated – decreased or eliminated. Step-and-Column payments will cost our District well over $500,000 next year.
Target Audience
When local union presidents step up to the microphone and go on and on trying to persuade School Board members and the public their District is fiscally mistreating employees, I have to smile. Sometimes they remind me of what a spoiled teenager must sound like when he is desperately trying to convince his parents to grow his weekly allowance because his best friend is getting more than he does.
Split Allegiances
School Board members need to realize that even though all local taxpayers do not always vote in our local elections, almost every voter who does participate is a local taxpayer.
If local voters see that the good faith and trust given to Board members is being misplaced – some members’ loyalties lying with District employees – it should come as no surprise if more taxpayers vote for a change in the next election.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
