Budget Discussions Continue
The West Bend School Board is still working toward a budget. It’s worth paying attention now.
Superintendent Pat Herdrich presented the administration’s proposed budget last month, along with a list of recommended reductions.
The meeting Monday is the second of three meetings dedicated to the budget discussion.
At the last meeting, Herdrich recommended making $2 million in reductions to bring the budget under the revenue caps and adjust to reduced state funding for schools.
Herdrich said the recommendations, which include the elimination of the equivalent of 26.1 staff positions, have not changed since last month.
The budget makes assumptions about student enrollment, state aid calculations and teacher wage increases, which are all presently unknown, Herdrich said, and the figures used in those areas are essentially placeholders until the actual numbers become available.
The proposed budget also assumes the district will levy to the maximum allowable amount, Herdrich said. Additional reductions would need to be made if the district does not levy to the revenue capacity, she said.
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She added that a March 22 meeting will give community members an opportunity to provide “a deeper level of feedback.”
Please take the time to let the board know your thoughts.
Crusher, smeety, tax to the max,
On the 22nd of March there is a meeting at which you can offer all of your ideas as to how the budget should be built. I am inviting you and there is notice in the paper and you will receive something in the mail if you live in the district. You cannot say that you did not know and if you choose not to come it will be your choice.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 0940 hrs
Kris,
I can’t wait, real question is- do you listen to the Taxpayers this time? Or the “Give us More”- “It’s for the Kids” Crowd?
Yea let’s do it all over again. Lets have the “Annual Budget Meeting” where you would agree last year there was a resounding “no”!!!!!
But sense the Board and their Teacher buddies didn’t expect that, we see at teh following Board meetings all the Teachers and the kids paraded in front of us. -Nice touch…..
You’ve already got Pat out there “Tax to the Max!”, does that sound like she’s interested in any public input?
Are we in for another set up kris?
Things change when the Board does Kris.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 1151 hrs
Going to that meeting with an intention to speak in any capacity is like talking to people who don’t speak your language. What’s the point? Tax to the Max got it right:
“Things change when the Board does Kris.”
Until then, it’s all smoke and mirrors rhetoric. I don’t like wasting my time.
Posted by GAMazy on March 06, 2010 at 1321 hrs
Then don’t complain and say that your voice isn’t heard. You havae shown a great penchant for hiding behind a fake name and calling names. Making wild accusations without having to back them up. Now is your chance to come out and say things directly to the board.
As Smeety likes to say, “grow a pair”
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 1725 hrs
real question is- do you listen to the Taxpayers this time? Or the “Give us More”- “It’s for the Kids” Crowd?
Which implies that one crowd is not taxpayers. Odd. Stop calling names. It’s stupid.
Posted by Mike on March 06, 2010 at 1748 hrs
“Then don’t complain and say that your voice isn’t heard.”
Never said that, and you did hear the resounding No! But this Board could give a shit. -Proof- not just a small tax, but-“Tax to the Max!
How about a year without drilling the Taxpayers for more? I’d be the first to offer a big sloppy kiss to hear you’ve cut spending, the Levy holds and no Referendums!
But the Board and Pat will come at us again with all the same old tired arguments, were the lowest spending, Bla, Bla, Bla, Contractual Obligations, bla bla bla. And nothing changes except the amount of money we throw at it increases.
The easy thing for this Board (and Pat) to do is piss and moan about funding, and then lay the Bill on us anyway. Real tough job…….
But folks like me that have similar opinions are dismissed by this School Board-I’ve seen it. So we’ll continue to come to the show understanding that it’s a waste of time. The one place that it’s not, is in the Booth.
Like I said, nothing changes till this Board does.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 1829 hrs
“And nothing changes except the amount of money we throw at it increases.” ???
The property tax bills went down after 1993 and the school levy property taxes are still not near 1993 levels, especially when applying the CPI index, i.e., the dollar is worth less; the district receives less from each property owner.
Yes, more property owners are in the district and property prices have gone up ___% since 1993, as have wages for everyone.
The numbers are available for anyone’s analysis (Open records request/district website) who takes the time to exploit their transparency. A board with two new members will not make the numbers change.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 1927 hrs
I love it!! JP, what does the value of a house or someones wages have to do with how much the district should spend? That is the disgusting attitude that is getting taxpayers (most) fed up. By pointing out how much we make and how much our houses are worth, you are revealing your true attitude. It is not about being frugal and responsible. It is about how much you feel entitled to. So now that the cat is out of the bag. Please tell us how much of our money do you feel entitled to. No, No, really tell us. How much do you think is enough?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 2150 hrs
Land Sakes Kris is hosting another charades party, the board will act out their version of being a responsible steward of public funds. I had so much fun at your last parties in fall, you remember these this is when the children acted as voting adults, and Kris acted as a deaf person , he was so good never once did he let on he could hear anybodys concerns.
Thank you for the invite Kris, I can only imagine what is in store for me once I enter your little fun house, no doubt sizing me up shackles so its easier to bend me over come fall and ram it home again.
Here is my thought of the day Kris , well call it truth and some thought.
I would think with as much budget problems the school is having every penny would be acounted for .
To create a new position and come up with the funds to pay them I would think is next to impossible.
But now the board has hired a public relations person, more of our hard earned money being flushed. There must be alot of fluff in the budget or you found the cash laying on the street. This is why we dont beleive anything or any numbers you toss out there.
That was the truth.
My thought
A good PR person when given lemons…..........
That being said I think your little riff with the teachers is a well concieved stunt, you know your only tool is cutting positions, so why not put it in a letter make us look like hard asses, whipping those teachers in to shape. THe teachers and the management are one team and have been for a long time, this wont change overnight. After they paraded the children and screamed tax me to the max for you last fall you certainly owe them one.
And if I am wrong why are you spending money on a PR person, explain to us what he or she is working on.JP
Congrats on your siding completion. Jp we dont see things in the same light, but something tells me your a darn good educator always willing to go the extra mile, a bit warped at times, but the kids are lucky to have you, your a bright guy and deserve to make a decent living, just understand now is not the time to be asking for more, no hard feelings.Kris if I come to your hodag can I sit next to you, I hate to miss any of words of wisdom like Fridays post when you compared salarys of private contractors in Iraq to that of the West Bend teachers.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2010 at 2244 hrs
Kris,
My ideas are simple. Grab the space between your legs, privatize the support staff, cut admin (ANY 10% will do), give the rest of admin a pay cut (like the private sector), and GET SERIOUS with WEAC.
And before you ask ‘who do you cut’, I tell you ANY 10% will do….
It’s not complicated. It just takes leadership. Leadership that not one member of the current board posesses…
And with regard to real unemployment being about 17%... Kris, (and this question is for you personally)... what number does this need to be under in order to justify a tax increase? 20%? 30%? I’m looking for a number here….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 08, 2010 at 1354 hrs
I live in West Bend (I also pay taxes), my kids go to our public schools, and I am a Teacher’s Aide. My job is on the line due to the proposed cuts. I’ve seen West Bend’s unemployment rate sited in this debate. How is cutting more jobs in West Bend going to help the unemployment rate here?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 08, 2010 at 2253 hrs
“Joe Carlson said that in the Private Sector, a business owner would raise revenue to deal with increased costs.”——-WHAT??????
Excuse me Joe, if that’s the case why all the unemployment? Why don’t private businesses just “Raise Revenue” and keep everyone on the payroll??
What the hell…...........?????????
Joe, Pat and this Board are literally unbelievable!
NOTHING CHANGES TILL THIS BOARD DOES!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 09, 2010 at 1120 hrs
Aide,
No one implied that laying people off would help the unemployment rate.
Your job is paid for with taxes, and it’s a lot to ask the taxpayers for another 11%+ tax increase, specifically the ones on unemployment, which Doc H. assumes in her budget…
still waiting on Kris…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 09, 2010 at 1248 hrs
I watched some news clips of guys in the Auto Industry that needed to either relocate or commute hundreds of miles to keep their jobs.
Their stories are not that unusual anymore.Many of are local Unions took freezes, both Public and Private to retain their jobs.
Lot’s of companies have their employees contributing more to their Insurance Plans and cut or stopped contributing to the employees 401.Please tell me what “Sacrifices” are our Teachers making that the the rest of us haven’t.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 09, 2010 at 1301 hrs
Hi Smeety,
I do realize that my possible job cut will not help the unemployment rate here. My point is that those who may use the unemployment argument need to keep in mind that the cuts will likely cause more unemployment in our city (district employees). Our successes/ distresses affect each other. Yet,it is easy to slide into an “us” vs “them” mentality.
District employees have spouses and family members who have lost their jobs. I have a close family member who has been out of a job for almost a year. Ironically, it looks as though he may have a job soon, because of the Badger construction project. I also have a widowed mother who pays her bills, including West Bend property tax, with meager Social Security earnings. I understand you argument.
Please keep in mind that teacher’s aides are a pretty good value for tax dollar. Most aides work part time, so benefits are minimal. Many aides are teaching small groups of children (under a teacher’s direction) While in the classroom we are using classroom management skills along with a working knowledge of the curriculum. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to find aides at our district who have 4-year degrees. This is not unskilled work that is easily replaceable by volunteers.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 09, 2010 at 2306 hrs
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