Tough road ahead...

Some thoughts on the proposed 2010-11 budget cuts following Monday's school board meetings...

1)  The subject that everyone was afraid to address is out-of-control employee costs.

As is evident all over the country, and further emphasized by the economic downturn, the unionization of public employees has created an unsustainable condition for all local governments. Over the last few decades, the collectively-bargained salaries and benefit packages, not to mention growing numbers of employees, have simply out-paced the public's ability to pay. Then, to make matters worse, dollars initially generated from taxes are funneled through union dues to campaign accounts of politicians who are willing to fill the public trough even more.

In Wisconsin last year, WEAC (the teacher's union), spent $1.5 million lobbying our state politicians. That was more than double any other special interest group!  Who benefits from this?  Not our kids...only the teachers, of course!  Then, when they retire in their mid-50's, the union counsels them to move out of state because (not surprisingly) the taxes rates here are much higher than elsewhere in the country.

It's time for taxpayers, and their advocates in government, to take back control.  What was once considered "public service" has become an ever-growing drain on society.  At this point, the only tool available is cutting positions and privatizing services wherever possible.  It would be great to someday see a repeal of the laws that allowed the formation of public-sector unions, so that the general public could once again receive government service at a reasonable price.

2) Here in West Bend, we are facing the fallout of numerous bad decisions originating at the state level:  The original funding formula, which punished low-spending districts like ours; the current Democrat legislature and governor, who cut dollars from school funding knowing that local boards would take the brunt of the public anger, having to make deep cuts or pass large tax increases; and the union-backed binding arbitration laws which essentially guarantee that the teachers will get whatever they request in contract "negotiations".

3) When the teacher's union gets its way, as it most likely will, the board will again face the tough task of balancing the books...and I for one, will not let the blame be misplaced.  Program cuts will be a direct result of union greed. While we all negotiate for our maximum compensation, being able to leverage a captive employer, and use kids as emotional props, is simply unfair. As cuts are made, many of our brightest and most energetic young teachers will likely be the first to go because union seniority rules will take precedence over any subjective judgement of merit.

I believe the current proposed list of reductions for 2010-11 is pretty straightforward.  Some things probably could have gone in years prior, like social workers and certain paid aide positions.  However, the more difficult decisions are just on the horizon - many of the big-ticket savings will be quite controversial with the community.  Others will undoubtedly again become focus points merely to generate backlash.  It will require a strong, conservative board to face these challenges and the fallout that is sure to follow...but, we must all realize that the age of uncontrollable taxing-and-spending is necessarily over.

ps:  Apparently the current board has also gotten the message. See here. Would they be talking this tough if Dave and I were not in the race? Based on last year, doubtful...