The New York State United Teachers, which is anxious to insure that New York continues to spend more than any other state on education per student and continues to increase its spending at a faster rate than other big states, has a TV ad to try to convince the 75 percent of New Yorkers who favor a cap on property tax increases that it's just a "gimmick."
The ad calls the cap "one size fits all." Huh? The 4 percent increase per year would be a different amount for every district, because every district starts with a different base -- that's the way percentages work. And it could be ignored if a mere 55 percent of voters wanted to spend more.
The ad also says it takes away local control. Huh? Local school boards and local voters still decide on and approve the budget. How does it take away local control? Totally misleading.
Taking a cue from legislative supporters like Speaker Sheldon Silver, the ad also says "deep cuts to school programs will hurt our kids." Huh? How is a 4 percent annual increase -- a bigger increase than most taxpayers get in their paychecks -- off a base of spending that is the highest in the nation a deep cut?
And how exactly is a circuit breaker an alternative? It's a great way to shift the property tax burden of some of the hardest hit onto the rest of us, but it does nothing to rein in the school spending that's driving the overall tax burden, or the perks NYSUT so zealously protects.
Comments (1)
I'm happy that NY has unionized teachers but NYSUT is a big problem. They are so out to make big bucks for teachers that they don't care how they impact everyone else.
NYSUT favors open borders and illegal immigration because they use it to get more teachers hired for ESL programs and tutoring programs. They never consider the impact on property taxes or on our quality of life.
NYSUT favors before-school and after-school programs because it gets them new members when districts hire people to babysit at teachers' salaries.
NYSUT favors taxpayer funding of all kinds of extra-curricular activities because their very-well-paid members get extra money to supervise those programs.
NYSUT's greed is hurting taxpayers.
We need property tax caps. We need accountability in school spending. We need schools to educate kids not provide all the extras at the highest possible expense.
Contact NYSUT and tell them that New York taxpayers NEED a tax cap.
New York State United Teachers
Richard Iannuzzi, President
800 Troy-Schenectady Road
Latham, New York 12110-2455
518-213-6000.