WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 24, 2008: White Plains City School District is not alone in waking up to the reality of teacher contracts. Teachers across the state are being met with opposition from their school districts as they attempt to negotiate contracts.
Almost one third of New York State School Districts, 222 of 698 districts were operating without contracts with their teachers as of September according to the New York State School Board Association. Of those 222, 47 had declared “Impasse,” the process that White Plains and its White Plains Teachers Association began last Thursday.
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White Plains with a beginning teacher’s salary with a B.A. Degree at $50,000, an MA, $57,815 and 2% “step” increases automatic for each year of service following, with a top salary of $125,871 for a Ph.d. with 20 years of service, put a very low offer on the table for the teachers in June and has not made an offer since according to the teachers union.
Raises to the Managers Rankles
The district did give a last round of raises to 42 administrators, directors, principals and Assistant Principals of an average 7.5% more than double the inflation rate of 2.7% in the current 08-09 budget, a total of $444,553 in salary increases, the average raise was $10,584. The “Favored 42” are being paid a total of $5.9 Million in salaries alone in the current year, meaning they received raises lifting their portion of the payroll 8%. Teachers received a 3.5% raise
The raises ranged from 2.6% to 15% for its highest salaried administrators, a policy that has aggravated the teachers union which is being asked for givebacks on health benefits and a lower salary increase. According to Kerry Broderick , teachers’ cost of health benefits have escalated 17% against a 3.5% increase in wages in the 2007-2008 contract.
You can review those individual increases received by district administraters in the previous WPCNR article on that round of administration pay raises last May at http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article6576.html
The teachers in contrast received a 3.5% increase for 2007-2008.
Holding the line on teachers salaries to a mere 2% would help the district immeasurably, because it would hold the teachers’ salaries below the 5% level.
Here’s why, last year when the district settled with the teachers a 3.5% raise across all levels, in addition to a 2% automatic step increase provided for a total of 7% across all teacher levels, this resulted in an increase in the budget of 4.39% in salaries overall.
If the county (at a 1.77% increase), the city (at a 3.9% increase and the school district continues at last year’s growth rate this year, about 5% the median home in White Plains will pay over $15,000 in property taxes that is UP $2,400 from last year. Should the city assessments NOT hold steady at last year’s level and actually decline, this automatically creates an additional tax increase of who knows what.
2009-2010 Property Tax Forecast
If budgets Grow at 08-09 Rates
County Tax 2009 (1.77% UP) From $2,440 to $2,500
City 3.9% (Holding Line) From $2,834 to $3,000
Schools (7% Tax Increase) From $10,342 to $11,065
The total for a $700,000 Median Priced Home — $16,565.
Plus Sewer Tax $343
Total Property Tax/Sewer Tax — $17,000
But this conservative forecast could turn out to be low.
If city assessments are down, and considering the 10% lowering of home prices across the city they could be, then the school tax rate will have to go up to make up the difference in tax revenue. Two years ago when assessments in the city sunk to $289 Million, the district had to increase the tax rate approximately $33 on top of the $474/per thousand to this year’s $503 per $1,000 of assessed value.
And, there’s another ominous possibility: If sales tax is down, the city may have to rachet up its tax rate exacting a higher toll on the city property tax.
Then of course, there is the problem of state aid being cut to the district, but this may be mitigated by increasing Medicaid givebacks from the government and infrastructure payments and aid to replace lost Wall Street revenue. Maybe.
The School District has recognized they have a problem.
