tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14091116.post2705441028634236280..comments2023-07-28T07:07:48.002-04:00Comments on The Community Alliance Blog: On Property Taxes, School Budgets, And The Education Of Our ChildrenThe Community Alliancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05874256614338547604noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14091116.post-10834781973432029932010-05-27T16:34:23.115-04:002010-05-27T16:34:23.115-04:00Mayor Bloomberg ordered a pay freeze for all city ...Mayor Bloomberg ordered a pay freeze for all city workers regardless of contracts. With the exception of Port Washington teachers, why isn't there a request for a pay freeze for all nassau county teachers. In addition, their should be a pay CUT for the Superintendents making over $300,000 a year. Isn't there a way we can make this happen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14091116.post-84408595736874792862010-05-18T14:59:12.565-04:002010-05-18T14:59:12.565-04:00Your headline is apt - ALL should listen. But fro...Your headline is apt - ALL should listen. But from my perspective, "all" in this context not only means that parents and taxpayers should listen but also politicians, school administrators and most of all boards of education. The palpable frustration felt among many taxpayers has to do with a perception that they have not been listened to by any of these constituencies when it comes to the increasingly urgent need to reduce taxes. <br /><br />We could debate whether or not that view is reasonable or fair, but it won't change the fact that it exists on a wide-scale basis and many are acting on it when they vote on budgets.<br /><br />Another point about listening: it doesn't mean too much when communication is sparse or defective. Parents and taxpayers need to actively express their points of view both to politicians and school boards, but what gets communicated back to parents has to be clear, honest and responsive, and not designed to obscure or to patronize.<br /><br />I'm not saying that there are no communities on Long Island capable of sustaining a constructive dialogue among these groups, but what I am saying is that there are plenty of places where that doesn't happen - where effective listening and honest communication are utterly broken. And as long as this is the case, the frustration being felt by all parties will only grow.Questionauthoritynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14091116.post-15992631633844973592010-05-18T11:31:09.085-04:002010-05-18T11:31:09.085-04:00Yes, it is true that teachers will get paid regard...Yes, it is true that teachers will get paid regardless of a YES or NO vote, but voting YES when the proposed budget includes raises for teachers and school district employees who already earn above what they would get in private industry is sending the message that taxpayers don't care about cost, and there is no limit to a persons salary if they work for the school district. A vote NO is appropriate if the school district personnel are overpaid based on their value in the free market and they are being given raises in the proposed budget. If Long Islanders do not believe in the free market and low taxes, why do they elect mostly Republican candidates that claim they do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com