Re: FCPS Pay Raise!
Posted by:
In The Know
()
Date: December 31, 2010 11:05PM
Be a saver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Pay for your own retirement and then MAYBE we can
> talk about a raise.
>
> Pay for a reasonable amount of your health care
> premiums and maybe be can discuss a COLA."
>
> They already do pay for a reasonable amount of the
> health care premiums. I don't know what your
> definition of reasonable is---but is $400 a month
> enough? That's 4000 per year.
>
> Teachers probably will go back to funding their
> own retirements---the county couldn't fund them
> (along with the police, etc.) last year because
> the state declared a "pension holiday". If they
> declare many more of those, you will be getting
> off as a taxpayer in future years and I'm sure the
> teachers pensions will be lowered (what else can
> happen?).
>
> Don't worry---you are safe from future teacher
> raises---of that I am 95% sure. What you have to
> worry about is a declining standard of life here.
> All public facilities (libraries, police and fire,
> schools, roads, ambulance, rec centers, parks) are
> not going to be what you have come to expect.
> There will be more fees for these
> services---school is already wrought with fees
> (PE, parking, sports, AP/IB, class fees) and look
> for the same in all other areas---tolls, ambulance
> fees, library fees, taxes on your water/sewer,
> etc.). This is the pain of being in a declining
> economy and a country on the down (it happened to
> the Romans too). We will survive---it just won't
> be what you have been used to. You are going to
> have less money too---even if your taxes do not go
> up. Competing with the rest of the world is not
> fun, but they weren't having too much fun before
> being poor. It is going to get harder to compete
> as we invest less in our schools and the cycle of
> down will continue. You might feel better knowing
> that you are not paying as much in taxes,but I
> would start saving to send your grandchildren to
> private schools (if you have any hope of them
> having a "professional" job). Also, do not count
> on your children to pay for your nursing home
> care. Start saving.
> And going to Florida is not going to help a whole
> bunch.
The last thing Fairfax County needs is for a major degradation of these services. Why, you ask? Well, it's the high standards that Fairfax County was known for that has been a great recruiter for many businesses that want to relocate to such an area. More businesses = a better job base = more tax revenues. However, if these services slip, Fairfax County could easily be out of the running for future considerations by these companies. Then, you have problems - much bigger ones than coming up with $70 million to fund some teacher pay raises.