Bullock Texas State History Museum
AISD Already Has More Than Enough Funding
RECEIVED Mon., Aug. 18, 2008
Dear Editor,
Re: “Bare Necessities” [“Point Austin,” News, Aug. 15]: I was shocked by the blatant falsehood stated by the Rev. Fred Krebs who claimed, "A first-year teacher making $40,000 has to pay $12,000 out of pocket to insure his or her family.” I'm familiar with the rates of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Scott & White, and Humana. A first-year teacher, likely to be single or newly married with no children, currently receives full coverage. Coverage for the spouse and at least six children can be easily obtained for the $1,000/month premium Krebs claims. Krebs misleadingly purports his worst-case scenario as the status quo and implies it's mandatory – the reverend needs to review the Ten Commandments.
These “union advocates” lobby to escalate already-oppressive property taxes for “wants,” as home-owning families struggle to pay. The Austin Independent School District's nine-month teacher compensation (average $43,400 plus health care and cash stipends) already far exceeds the average 12-month income in Austin. AISD views property owners as endless fountains of funding, recently heaping nearly a billion dollars of additional bond debt (and tax increases) on their backs for "extras." Should we continue to reward a system that, based on dropout and graduation rates, is failing in its mission?
The article states: AISD is "a 'rich district' (which just happens to be filled largely with poor students).” Why is this? Half the children born in Travis County are illegitimate and subsidized by welfare – a growing dilemma. How much do you think these "poor" students' parents contribute to the system? How many work as a team with their child for educational success? We cannot solve societal/cultural failures with higher taxes.
Last but not least: Our tax-vote approval system is fundamentally flawed. People who don't actually pay property taxes are allowed to vote on their increases. This dilutes the representation of those who are obligated, violating their rights.
Re: “Bare Necessities” [“Point Austin,” News, Aug. 15]: I was shocked by the blatant falsehood stated by the Rev. Fred Krebs who claimed, "A first-year teacher making $40,000 has to pay $12,000 out of pocket to insure his or her family.” I'm familiar with the rates of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Scott & White, and Humana. A first-year teacher, likely to be single or newly married with no children, currently receives full coverage. Coverage for the spouse and at least six children can be easily obtained for the $1,000/month premium Krebs claims. Krebs misleadingly purports his worst-case scenario as the status quo and implies it's mandatory – the reverend needs to review the Ten Commandments.
These “union advocates” lobby to escalate already-oppressive property taxes for “wants,” as home-owning families struggle to pay. The Austin Independent School District's nine-month teacher compensation (average $43,400 plus health care and cash stipends) already far exceeds the average 12-month income in Austin. AISD views property owners as endless fountains of funding, recently heaping nearly a billion dollars of additional bond debt (and tax increases) on their backs for "extras." Should we continue to reward a system that, based on dropout and graduation rates, is failing in its mission?
The article states: AISD is "a 'rich district' (which just happens to be filled largely with poor students).” Why is this? Half the children born in Travis County are illegitimate and subsidized by welfare – a growing dilemma. How much do you think these "poor" students' parents contribute to the system? How many work as a team with their child for educational success? We cannot solve societal/cultural failures with higher taxes.
Last but not least: Our tax-vote approval system is fundamentally flawed. People who don't actually pay property taxes are allowed to vote on their increases. This dilutes the representation of those who are obligated, violating their rights.
Roger Falk
