Republicans should not take new taxes off table in school funding debate
In Ypsilanti, a number of hard-working parents have organized to save their schools as the district faces a huge deficit. In Ann Arbor, we will lose teachers, see program cuts, and have to privatize services (lose loyal district-employed custodians) among other hardships. Saline almost had to cut its entire math program!
It is misguided to direct our anger at local school boards and district officials. Right now, local school funding authority rests with the state. This week, Republican Senate and House members have said NO to all revenue generating taxes and fees proposed to fill the enormous state school budget shortfall.
Sen. Mike Bishop leads the effort to block the governor's revenue ideas and does not offer even partial funding alternatives. Just more cuts.
Write or call the senator if you are upset about your school's funding: Sen. Mike Bishop, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536, 517-373-2417.
Elizabeth W. Anderson Ann Arbor
Comments
Lisa Starrfield
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 10:44 a.m.
Diangenes, In order to get Michigan working, you want to cut the wages and benefits of those already working and cut their jobs too? In order to get Michigan working, our schools need to be working. Fund them properly.
stunhsif
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 11:25 p.m.
@Diagenes, Could not have said it any better. We are taxed out for certain. @David Briegel, "Empty the prisons, especially for Marijuana offenses". The only folks in prison for Marijuana are those who are high level dealers David or serious repeat offenders. Are you sad that the dope get-together up at the diag is not what it used to be?
Diagenes
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
How much tax is too much? We already pay local, state and federal taxes on income, property and consumer purchases (sales taxes). There are taxes such as license plate fees and taxes buried in the price of gasoline. There are taxes on telephone service. At what point does the level of taxation stifle economic activity? Look at Michgan's economy and I think I have answered my own question. In order to get Michigan working again we need to evaluate every aspect of government including schools. If that means a pay freeze or benefit cuts so be it. If the employees do not like it they can start their own school and pay themselves as much as they want.
David Briegel
Sun, Feb 21, 2010 : 1:18 p.m.
End the war on drugs. (a war on sanity!) We are 5% of the worlds population with 25% of the prisoners. Our system of inJustice is not working! Empty the prisons, especially for Marijuana offenses. Quit enforcing our laws selectively. Economic and social justice will go a long way to improving our society, lowering our corrections costs while providing the needed funds for education. Don't expect real leadership from our politicians. We have to demand these sane solutions. A new direction is logn overdue.
Basic Bob
Sun, Feb 21, 2010 : 11:11 a.m.
Michigan spends $2 billion each year on prisons. A 10% cut in corrections could be applied directly to school funding. The long-term result is better educated children AND a reduction in crime. But our term-limited legislators look soft on crime if they close prisons and shorten sentences. Only real leadership can get us past this dilemma.
Carl
Sun, Feb 21, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
I completely agree with you Elizabeth, and have taken the time to contact all of my representatives. Many see "tax" as a dirty word. Unfortunately, the view you and I hold is not the public consensus. Many believe that education is too expensive and because "80% of budgets are taken up by pay and benefits" the real problem, to most, is teacher pay and benefits. They refuse to see the funding side of the issue, which has been a problem for nearly twenty years. It has finally "come to a head" because we have ran out of short-sighted solutions. How bad is it? In a recent committee meeting that I am a part of, it was revealed that coaches make about 15 cents an hour. Following that fact, at least three people asked if we could pay the coaching staff less.