Got an interesting e-mail from a reader pressing me about this morning's editorial, which criticized Gov. Butch Otter's proposed education budget cuts.
"What happens next year if the conditions don't improve, or are worse? Do we raise taxes? That appears to be the only option," the writer said.
"You've got to look beyond your nose — or in this case, beyond one budget year. If you think that raising taxes in a recession is the answer, wonderful. Just say it. Then no one can accuse you of having a hidden agenda."
It's a good question. It just isn't a germane question.
Here's my prediction. If Otter gets his way — and school budgets are slashed even beyond the $62 million in cuts proposed by state schools superintendent Tom Luna — school districts will be forced to cut teachers. They cannot make these budgets by simply furloughing staff or shortening the school year. Teachers will lose jobs. (The Boise School District is already cutting 122 teaching jobs next year.)
Faced with that prospect, I fully expect districts will go the voters and ask them to approve property tax levies to help them keep teachers. Remember the two-year, $20 million levy Meridian voters OK'd earlier this month? More districts will certainly follow suit.
These levies will either keep a property tax levy in place — or result in a property tax increase. That, friends, is a tax hike during a recession. To pay for schools while Otter sits on a $114 million public schools rainy-day account.
That's Otter's agenda. Evidently, he has no problem with raising taxes for schools during a recession — as long as his hands are clean, and the school districts have to go out there groveling for the money.
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wrong again
i am just amazed at how often kevin just doesn't get it. i thought it was otter's plan to hold some of this money back TO AVOID TAX INCREASES should the economy not recover quickly. it was luna and those brains in the legislature (ie kate kelly) that want to spend all the money in the first year. spend it all now and what happens next year? taxes, that's what. but by taking otter's more cautious approach it would appear that the state is better positioned for the long run.
LOL
The legislature and the Governor are charged with having a little foresight but they are more worried about bogey men next year than they are dealing with facts as they exist today. Leaving the rainy day fund untouched is mind boggling given our current state of affairs and leaving it alone merely begs the question of why it was there in the first place. As Kevin quite properly points out, they're passing the buck on the tough choice on raising taxes and irresponsibly saving $100 of tax dollars already collected which has the unnecessary byproduct of contributing to the consequences of the paradox of thrift.
There were discretionary funds
Look, Otter does have a lack of education and a lack of vision. How big is the department of corrections budget? There are many non-profit groups around the state and free ways to start integrating misdemeanor offenders, but the department of corrections is not getting cut and unwilling to work with those groups. The education and programs that prevent corrections such as school activities, one more day in the classroom, and teachers are being ousted instead. He is perpetuating a dismal future for our children that is much more difficult to recover from than financial woes. These children will become their environment.
The Dept of Correction...
is also having to cut its budget. The problem that is facing this agency is that currently 1 in 18 adults in Idaho is under some form of correctional supervision. In 1982, the rate was 1 in 128. Elected leaders are not willing to revise sentencing and slow down probation for fear of being labeled soft on crime.
What about Administration?
Why not get rid of some administrators at the top of the pyramid? They make a lot of money and do not contribute to the education of the kids. Why not take money away from some other programs to assist in funding the teachers? Why not change the laws regarding spending the lottery money on operations instead of, or in addition to, infrastructure?
It's just more of the same ol'. Nobody wants to make a difficult decision regarding the allocation of scarce resources. The economy is deflating so either taxes will need to be raised, services reduced, increased efficiency, or a combination thereof. So we just point fingers instead.
I know for a fact that a lot of people provide little value to their organizations. They need to lose their jobs whether in private companies or government.
That's a good place to start.
I've wondered about that as well
I swear I remembered at the beginning of the session something about cutting administrators at the head of Education and Health & Welfare, or at least cutting their salaries, but now nobody else is saying they remember anything like that.
Otter is no weather man
He couldn't tell you if it was raining to save his life.
How would rain save his life?
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. And it's four o'clock in the morning, dammit, listen to me good!
Distracts the farmers...
Makes them put their pitchforks to other uses.
It was Elton John also, calms your fears of earlier allegations.
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. Don't give us none of your aggravations.
Thought that was something about the sun going down...
Although Sun is a funny name, she did have golden hair.
He said not to let it go...
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. Pre-AIDS Anti-AIDS message perhaps.
A guilotine could make you lose your head.
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. Time for All-Tempa CHEER!
What the heck was this story about now?
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. There it is!
If you want the headline so bad, the laws of probability are...
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Welcome to D2, glad you could come to sense the misery we built ourselves. On your side.