Oh really!
Posted on 11/12/2010 3:35:15 PM PST by Gopher Broke
November 12, 2010
Dear xxxxx
As we approach the 2011 General Assembly (GA), legislators are focusing on what is still a daunting budget situation. Incoming revenues continue to lag the projections upon which the current budget was based, and the Governor is working on his amendments to balance the budget and advance his agenda. He will present his amendments on December 17th. For that reason, this message concentrates on funding. More Cuts?
The Governor has requested that state agencies submit budgets cutting 2, 4 and 6%. In the past, direct aid to public education has not been included when these requests have been made. This time it is. Dr. Pat Wright, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has indicated that she will not cut Standards of Quality (SOQ) funding, so all the cuts will come from categorical, incentive, and lottery funds. The figure for total cuts being discussed is $300 million for FY2012.
Education Jobs Fund
On October 18, the House Appropriations Committee, in receipt of an Education Jobs Fund Update (http://hac.state.va.us/Committee/files/2010/10-18-10/Education_Jobs_Fund_Update-10-13-10.pdf ), briefly discussed the possibility of supplanting these funds. In other words, because your school division will be receiving its share of the $249.5 million of Federal funds, the state will provide less to your division. It appears that this will require amendment(s) to the current budget in the General Assembly session ahead. VEA will oppose these amendments. This is certainly in conflict with the intent of this funding, and the prospect has had a chilling effect upon the proper utilization of these funds at the local level.
State Spending
On Monday, the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission issued a report analyzing state spending over the past decade (http://jlarc.state.va.us/meetings/November10/State%20Spending.pdf). Some interesting facts jumped from the page as I did my first review.
Personal income in Virginia increased 45%.
The State Budget increased by 59% (30% when adjusted for inflation)
Direct Aid to Public Education increased by 26%
K-12 enrollment increased by 10%
Inflation rose by 23%
Budget Hearings
The House Appropriations Committee recently released the budget hearing schedule for the General Assembly (GA) session ahead. As always, the hearing schedule is not conducive to working people, the ones who pay the taxes. President Boitnott will designate a VEA speaker for each hearing, but for those of you who can get free (Are you reading this VEA-Retired members?) this is an excellent opportunity to stand up for investment in the education of the next generation of Virginians. Our future depends upon it.
01/06/11 Public Hearings - 2010-12 State Budget. All on one day. No separate Richmond meeting.
10:00 am Fairfax County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Auditorium, Fairfax County
10:00 am Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon
Noon Norfolk State University, New Student Center, Room #149, Norfolk
Noon John Tyler Community College, Chester Campus, Nicholas Auditorium, Chesterfield County
Noon Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg
Congressional Quarterly published one of their annual CQ State Fact Finder Series publications entitled Education: State Rankings 2010-2011 just a few weeks back. As always, it contains some eye opening statistics that can be put to good use by education advocates in Virginia. Here are just a few Virginia Rankings:
Average Reading Scores for Public School Fourth Graders in 2009 = 6th
Average Public School Fourth Grade Mathematics Score in 2009 = 16th
Average Science Score for Public Fourth Graders in 2005 = 1st
Virginia is a top-twenty state in student performance!
Per Pupil Public Elementary and Secondary School Revenue from State Sources in 2008 = 38th
The Average Salary of Public School Teachers in the U.S. in 2010 = $55,350
The Average Salary of Virginia Public School Teachers in 2010 = $49,999
Virginia’s Average Salary for Public School Teachers 2010 is $5,351 below the national average. [Virginia is the 7th wealthiest state in the nation.]
Average Teacher Salary as a Percent of Average Annual Pay of All Workers in 2008 = 49th
Estimated Percent of School-Age Population n Public Schools in 2009 for Virginia = 94%
I hope this information will help you as you lobby your delegate and senator.
Thank you, Robley Jones
VEA GR&R
Oh really!
They just don’t get it! So layoffs are more palettable? Dumba##es.
Just wait till we SPEND MORE and experience HYPER INFLATION!
I find it very unlikely in this climate that personal income rose by 45% unless you are a UNION person.
What’s the unemployment percentage or figure for the area?
Pr doesn’t that matter?
Just SPEND MORE, right?
We apparently pay our teachers below average, and get results that are way above average.
Maybe other states should follow our lead.
Fortunately for us here in Virginia, the VEA is only a ‘professional association’. Government employees are prohibited by law from engaging in collective bargaining. The VEA, SEIU and AFSME would dearly love to change this but its not going to happen...it is one of the primary reasons we are not in desperate financial shape and have reasonably honest elections.
They may not legally be a union but they sure act like one, having their members to show up to public meetings to pressure public officials.
Also, they have one of the strongest lobby groups in Richmond.
They may not legally be a union but they sure operate like one, having their members to show up to public meetings to pressure public officials.
Also, they have one of the strongest lobby groups in Richmond.
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