Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

I definitely see your point. I guess every district is different and this just illustrates that

I don't think teacher's benefits/salaries are always the main issue but I know you are saying they are a majority of the budget. I don't think they are ridiculous across the board (every district) and often admin. (who sometimes teach, too) salaries are quite high which doesn't help.

I guess I am saying that there is corruption and waste on all levels..I just think teachers get a bad rap sometimes

Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

I find it amazing that Lottery proceeds and certain taxes (like cig. tax) are supposed to help fund the school districts but that just doesn't seem to be the case does it?

Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

I don't see it happening with the taxes matching what we paid in Ca. Ours was just under $2,500.00 for a 4 bedroom 2 bath 1900 square foot house build in 1998.

Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

First of all, and yes I'm a teacher, but leave that aside, I don't think it's fair to say that taxes are high because of teachers. I think there are a whole lotta other factors that contribute to high taxes (you don't think the garbage industry is taking in cash under the table?) Greed and politics...corruption...that's what it is making taxes high. It's been the same story for years and years.

What I find amazing is that here in Queens, taxes are dirt cheap. Now depedning where you are, things are different, but the streets are clean, snow is removed, things are taken care of, police officers and fire departments are not hurting for employees, nor is the Board of Ed. The teachers are paid almost comparibly to LI teachers. The city employees are paid decent salaries and have fantastic benefits. But taxes are still maintained at managable levels. Why? I don't know, but maybe corporations and businesses are taxed more and higher. Hey, why NOT???

If you want to change something, sometimes you have to be the one to change it. Run for local offices. Volunteer in the offices. Get your voices heard. Go to town meetings. I think everyone is always waiting for someone else to make a change.


I don't know, maybe I am naive, but these are just my thoughts.

Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

Its not the administrators...

Before you start blaming - perhaps you should attend your district's monthly board meeting. I do...

Look at the line items for "instructional salaries"...That's TEACHER benefits, salaries and pensions - which comprise the majority of the budget.

We vote for the Board - and the board selects the Administrators.

On LI, there are notoriously strong administrators that control salaries and still manage to have a high ranking district.

If you don't like what you see, YOU can change it. Don't just complain - do something.

Re: Do You Think Taxes in LI will be like CA

Isn't it an assumption to say that people aren't attending board meetings, etc.?

I do get that teachers salaries are the majority of the budget. I'm saying it's about more than salaries...admin controls what is done with the budget and where/how money is spent. I see your point of view..I think there's just more to it than the salaries..if they were all lowered there would still be problems..