Gov. Spitzer, we don't need a new costly blue ribbon commission “that gets at the root causes of what is driving taxes so high.” Been there, done that under Govs. Pataki and Cuomo. Your report will be ineffective as was theirs and will soon be gathering dust in the archives along with theirs.
Gov. Spitzer, hello, we already know it. The continuing, out-of-control cost explosion of public school education is the “root cause” driving property taxes beyond affordability. Change is long past due.
• Major reorganization of K-12 public education.
• Overhead fat reduction across all local and state jurisdictions.
• Phased reduction of wages/benefits across all public employees.
MAJOR REORGANIZATION OF K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION
The state's public education, organizationally, is still living in the mid-20th century. There are 700 school districts each with its own non-classroom overhead structures. In addition there are 38 BOCES operations that alone spend billions.
Governor, in your 2007 State of the State address, you said we must consolidate New York state multiple layers of local government. How are you doing?
Public education needs 21st century organization, entrepreneurial management, meritocracy concepts, redistricting, and consolidation of overheads, distance learning, diversity of school systems, throw out the hierarchical structures. Revolutionary changes such as these would permit tens of billions of dollars to be used for more classroom time, develop more 21st century math and science curriculums, integration of high school with college credit for high achievers (lowering college costs), greater choice for parents and pupils and a reduction in property taxes.
OVERHEAD FAT REDUCTION
There are billions of dollars spent on non-classroom overhead which represents about one-half of total billions spent. The state educrats will dispute this ratio but their definition of a “teacher” at best is quite cloudy. Put it this way, pupils and in fact even most senior citizens can name their teachers even from years ago and speak of them with love, respect and gratitude. Why are the state educrats so confused about who is a teacher?
If a public sector employee is not a teacher in the classroom/playing field, a policeman on the beat, a fireman manning hoses, a nurse, a laborer fixing potholes or in some other way performing “hands on” delivery of services that public employees must be considered overhead and subject to “force reduction.” As in pruning, that reduction would begin at the top in Albany, continuing across local jurisdictions and eliminating many fiefdoms altogether.
Governor, like the song says, “Overhead lies right under your eyes back in your own backyard.” K-12 enrollment is projected to continue to decline to about 2.5 million in 2009. Enrollment in 1971 was 3.5 million. Most Upstate New York school districts show a similar or greater decline. Despite this, non-classroom/overhead spending continues to balloon in relation to the declining enrollments.
Governor, it's long since past time for you and the Legislature to take the fat out of the public sector. Like the private sector “thin is in.”
PHASED REDUCTION OF WAGE AND BENEFITS FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Annual wages for public sector jobs exceed those in the private sector in Upstate New York counties by from 20 to 40 percent. If benefits are added the percent becomes substantially greater. Such huge and growing disparities between the public sector and the diminishing private sector (New Process Gear in Syracuse just announced layoffs for 1,656 workers, possibly more to follow) are not only unacceptable but are simply unsustainable.
Governor, in your State of the State address, you said you tend to speak directly, bluntly. Here is your chance to do just that.
State governance can no longer curry favor with public sector unions on the subject of wage, levels, pensions, vacations, overtime, no layoffs, other benefits when the private sector is in a long term downward trend in all these areas. The state must determine ceilings for public sector compensation levels beyond which the private sector cannot be asked to pay. The ceiling would be directly related to the economic vitality of the state or region.
Governor, under your leadership and in cooperation with the Legislature I urge you to write, pass and sign legislation that addresses “the root causes of what is driving our taxes so high”.
The final answer for New York is to reduce the cost of delivering services by downsizing the public sector and transitioning the public sector from its mission of running the state for the benefit of the public sector to running the state for the benefit of all the people.
Fitzgerald writes from Canandaigua.
• Major reorganization of K-12 public education.
• Overhead fat reduction across all local and state jurisdictions.
• Phased reduction of wages/benefits across all public employees.
MAJOR REORGANIZATION OF K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION
The state's public education, organizationally, is still living in the mid-20th century. There are 700 school districts each with its own non-classroom overhead structures. In addition there are 38 BOCES operations that alone spend billions.
Governor, in your 2007 State of the State address, you said we must consolidate New York state multiple layers of local government. How are you doing?
Public education needs 21st century organization, entrepreneurial management, meritocracy concepts, redistricting, and consolidation of overheads, distance learning, diversity of school systems, throw out the hierarchical structures. Revolutionary changes such as these would permit tens of billions of dollars to be used for more classroom time, develop more 21st century math and science curriculums, integration of high school with college credit for high achievers (lowering college costs), greater choice for parents and pupils and a reduction in property taxes.
OVERHEAD FAT REDUCTION
There are billions of dollars spent on non-classroom overhead which represents about one-half of total billions spent. The state educrats will dispute this ratio but their definition of a “teacher” at best is quite cloudy. Put it this way, pupils and in fact even most senior citizens can name their teachers even from years ago and speak of them with love, respect and gratitude. Why are the state educrats so confused about who is a teacher?
If a public sector employee is not a teacher in the classroom/playing field, a policeman on the beat, a fireman manning hoses, a nurse, a laborer fixing potholes or in some other way performing “hands on” delivery of services that public employees must be considered overhead and subject to “force reduction.” As in pruning, that reduction would begin at the top in Albany, continuing across local jurisdictions and eliminating many fiefdoms altogether.
Governor, like the song says, “Overhead lies right under your eyes back in your own backyard.” K-12 enrollment is projected to continue to decline to about 2.5 million in 2009. Enrollment in 1971 was 3.5 million. Most Upstate New York school districts show a similar or greater decline. Despite this, non-classroom/overhead spending continues to balloon in relation to the declining enrollments.
Governor, it's long since past time for you and the Legislature to take the fat out of the public sector. Like the private sector “thin is in.”
PHASED REDUCTION OF WAGE AND BENEFITS FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Annual wages for public sector jobs exceed those in the private sector in Upstate New York counties by from 20 to 40 percent. If benefits are added the percent becomes substantially greater. Such huge and growing disparities between the public sector and the diminishing private sector (New Process Gear in Syracuse just announced layoffs for 1,656 workers, possibly more to follow) are not only unacceptable but are simply unsustainable.
Governor, in your State of the State address, you said you tend to speak directly, bluntly. Here is your chance to do just that.
State governance can no longer curry favor with public sector unions on the subject of wage, levels, pensions, vacations, overtime, no layoffs, other benefits when the private sector is in a long term downward trend in all these areas. The state must determine ceilings for public sector compensation levels beyond which the private sector cannot be asked to pay. The ceiling would be directly related to the economic vitality of the state or region.
Governor, under your leadership and in cooperation with the Legislature I urge you to write, pass and sign legislation that addresses “the root causes of what is driving our taxes so high”.
The final answer for New York is to reduce the cost of delivering services by downsizing the public sector and transitioning the public sector from its mission of running the state for the benefit of the public sector to running the state for the benefit of all the people.
Fitzgerald writes from Canandaigua.
The Citizens' Say
There are 1 comment(s)
Dan W wrote on Jan 16, 2008 5:13 PM: