Re: Carlin sums it up

Rachel_H — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:52:24 -0000

no, 'cuz Carlin's DEAD . . . it's hard to get registered, and balloted.

Re: Right-Wing Think Tank's Marijuana Policy Paper Takes Absurdity to New Heights | | AlterNet

Rachel_H — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:16:32 -0000

"25 plants. Therefore, an individual will be able to produce 24,000 to 240,000 joints legally each year."

Need this guy to come tend my garden.

Re: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - Bothell Reporter

Rachel_H — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:37:48 -0000

Last night, at the Northshore School Board meeting, the President of Northshore Education Association urged the Board to spend down their excess reserves. He maintains that the school district has much more in reserve than it needs, and the excess should be used to keep teachers working.

I am all for keeping teachers working, but not if we jeopardize the future of the district to do it.

First, there is no “excess” reserve. The district does have monies in reserve to cover fluctuating fund balances, and to provide for emergencies. Also, the district is self-insured, so it is prudent to maintain funds to cover larger than normal losses. Washington State does not permit school districts to borrow money to cover operating costs (bonds cover only capital expenditures), so school districts risk state take-over if they come up short of funds to meet normal, month-to-month oblibations. What if the district has a roof cave in, or a flood? If there is no reserve, the district has no money to pay for repairs. In addition, any monies above the reserve are normal operating expenses. All of us have times of the month when our bank account is much more flush than others. If we’ve just gotten paid, and haven’t paid the bills yet, that bank account may look good. That operating budget is part of what the union proposes to spend. We can’t spend the money that is budgeted to pay the rent and buy the groceries, and neither can the district. Imagine how upset the union would be if the district failed to meet payroll, or to cover benefits.

Second, that reserve is vital to maintain their bond rating. The bond rating is based on the district's 'sound and well-managed financial operations characterized by healthy reserves.' A district’s bond rating has a huge impact on whether or not the bonds sell, and what interest rate the district must pay on the bonds. A lower bond rating in this down economy could have devastating effects on the district’s capital funding.

The School Board and Financial Director Dick Anastasi have achieved and maintained a great bond rating for the district. This is not the time to jeopardize decades of careful stewardship.

And, what happens next year, if we spend the reserve? Not only does the district put itself in a precarious financial position, but next year, the personnel cuts will have to be twice as deep. Because next year, there won’t be a reserve to spend. It’s an unsustainable model.

Teacher’s unions across the state are pushing school boards to spend their reserves. I know the economy is tough – King County workers have taken a 20% cut in pay, many private sector businesses have either laid off people or taken pay cuts to avoid layoffs, or both; banks are failing, and the economy continues to get worse. The district is making large cuts in administrative and support staff.

Maybe teachers could make a good faith effort to negotiate something other than layoffs. A cut in pay, or giving up a day that is not a student class day. Or maybe they can come up with something that I haven’t thought of. Now is the time to work on creative, sustainable solutions.

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Re: Carlin sums it up

Re: Right-Wing Think Tank's Marijuana Policy Paper Takes Absurdity to New Heights | | AlterNet

Re: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - Bothell Reporter