WEAC's Top Priority......

WEAC's top priority: Elimination of the QEO

By Mary Lazich

Thursday, Aug 14 2008, 06:06 PM


WEAC (The Wisconsin Education Association Council), the state teacher's union has released its 2009-10 Legislative Agenda. Topping WEAC's list of priorities is repealing the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer).
This is another reason the November election is critical. If Democrats maintain control of the state Senate and take back control of the state Assembly, a legislature controlled by Democrats along with Governor Doyle will kill the QEO. The result will be a property tax explosion.
Some background is in order. The QEO was instituted by the Legislature after angry taxpayers statewide demanded action be taken to stop the tidal wave of huge property tax increases. Since its inception, the QEO has helped keep property taxes from being even higher than they already are.
Under the QEO, the compensation package for teachers including salaries and benefits is to be limited to a 3.8 percent increase. Prior to the implementation of the QEO, settlement packages with teachers were much larger, forcing a tremendous burden on taxpayers.
According to data from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) that used figures from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the average total teacher salary and benefit package increase in the years before the QEO was 8 percent during 1984-85, 8.4 percent during 1985-86, 7.7 percent during 1986-87, 7.4 percent during 1987-88, 7.1 percent during 1988-89, 7.3 percent during 1989-90, 7.4 percent during 1990-91 and 6.9 percent during both 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Enough was enough. Taxpayers protested. The Legislature heard and listened, and the QEO was adopted.
In reality, most school districts do not stay within the QEO, agreeing to settlements that surpass the 3.8 percent limit. The WASB reports that the average total package of salaries and benefits was 4.29 percent during 2006-07, 4.25 percent during 2005-06, and 4.31 percent during 2004-05. The percentages are higher than the rate of inflation, and more than likely are greater than increases provided in the private sector.
The QEO must remain intact. Without the QEO, spending and taxes will rise substantially, more people will leave their homes, more people will leave the state, and more jobs will be lost. We cannot afford to lose the QEO.

Eliminate Property Tax?

Watch the video below to see an interesting short video on an idea to elimination property tax!

Rep. Phil King of Texes presents a pretty compelling argument.

Something to think about.

Spending and Raises Up Significantly at the Waterford Union High School

Wow, the spending at the Waterford Union High School seems to be excessive! What is it with these tax intoxicated school board members and administrators?

Their Annual Budget Meeting was held this evening.

Here are some troubling things that were disclosed during the course of the meeting.

The High School has $4,637,975 in reserves. They continue to refuse to use some of that to offset the tax levy and lower our property taxes. 1.1 Million of that came from Racine County when the Special Education program was turned over to the local school districts. The High School Board hasn’t passed that money on to us in the form of tax relief, they simply pocketed it in their general fund and pretended like they never received it. They increased their budget when they took over the Special Education program but didn’t put the money they received from Racine County for the Special Education program toward the program. They simply raised your taxes and hid the money they received from the County.

Even though the State Law allows districts to hold teachers/administrators increases at 3.8%, the High School Board decided to give the teachers a 4.5% raise, the support staff a 5.5% raise, and the administration a 3.5% raise PLUS a $1000 bonus.

They were asked if the teachers paid any percentage of their health insurance premiums. They proudly answered that yes, they pay 3% - even though most of us pay 15% or more toward our health insurance. What is even more astonishing is that we learned that while the teachers "contribute" 3% toward their health insurance, the school district then turns around and gives them 3% toward an annuity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of a SCAM is that?

In total salaries went up 9.9% and Operating Transfer expenses went up over 34%.

A taxpayer mentioned that even though he was against the large increase this year (AGAIN), the High School should tax at last years level and get the balance from the reserve fund to keep taxes at last years level. They refused!!!!!

We have a lot of work ahead of us!

Costs Up & Quality of Education Down

Paul Beyerl provided the following link.

It seems that while the cost of the Waterford Graded School District continues to rise dramatically, the quality of education in the District is going down.

http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/graphshell.asp?SubjectID=1RE&GraphFile=GEDISAPRIORYEARS&DETAIL=YES&Grade=99&Group=AllStudentsFAY&EligibleOnly=NO&Level=A-P&WOW=WSAS&ORGLEVEL=DI&FULLKEY=02611303ZZZZ&DN=Waterford+Graded+J1&SN=Show+Schools

Paul B.

Upcoming Important Budget Meetings

Tomorrow evening (August 20, 2008) the Village of Waterford will be holding their "Public Comment on Master Plan" meeting at the Village Hall 123 N River Street. The meeting starts at 5:00pm and the Joint Village Board/Planning Commission meeting follows.

On Monday, August 25, 2008 the Waterford Graded School District will be holding their Annual District Meeting where they present and hold a hearing on their proposed budget for the school year. This meeting starts at 7:00pm at the Evergreen Elementary School Cafeteria.

The Waterford Union High School will be holding their Annual District Meeting where they present and hold a hearing on their proposed budget for the school year. This meeting is going to be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 7:30pm at the High School.