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WEAC, the EAW & the Waukesha School Board |
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
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 Salaries and benefits are by far the largest portion of the School District budget and the increases dictate what the School Board must do with programs and corresponding reductions in programs. During the '90's, negotiations used to begin with presentation of proposals of both sides, the EAW (Education Association of Waukesha) and the Waukesha School Board (the elected body that should be working on behalf of taxpayers to provide the best education possible). This was done so that negotiations was a give/take process (taxpayers usually gave more than they received in return). Recently, a couple of WTL members had a three way conversation with Bill Baumgart, President of the Waukesha School Board. In that conversation, the WTL verified that the School Board does not vote or have an acceptable QEO done prior to negotiations as a basis to work from. The School District also hasn't filed with the appropriate Schedule D required by law at the close of negotiations for previous years. Following is the 'proposal-less non-protection' contract used by the School District of Waukesha (ie. Waukesha School Board) and the EAW. Is there a difference between the two groups??
NEW! - An Economics Professor's Take
NEW! - The WTL and The Long Term Funding Fix
NEW! - In Bed Together, But "It's for the Children"
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Is This For the Children? |
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Thursday, 08 February 2007 |
 School District of Waukesha Unfunded Liability Report
Last August, the School District of Waukesha borrowed for the second time to pay for unfunded liability. The first time was in 1998 (remember the renigging on the promised return of the savings to taxpayers). The August borrow was over $15 Million. The principal will be repaid after the two year refinancing the board may chose to do in 2011 or they may chose to refince the amount.. The principal has been invested in a trust fund which is projecting $3.1 Million in earnings over a seven year period from AA & AAA bonds. Current projections estimate the district owes approximately $5 Million per year in retirement benefits and budgets under $3 Million per year. The term of the loan is five years. By 2011, the amount owed in retirement benefits is projected to be close to $10 Million per year. If district employees retire at the rate the report predicts and allowed by contract, without a change in current benefits, property taxes will soar or the program cuts to the district will be detrimental. While it is commendable that the board is trying produce extra cash through investments, how responsible is it to 1.) push the debt off to the future (if there isn't a need to touch the principal which the WTL believes unlikely) or 2.) continue the current benefits structure as it is today or 3.) Invest borrowed money without a guaranteed rate of return? Is it any wonder why the School District of Waukesha is trying to push for an elimination of revenue caps--the only protection that taxpayers have? (The other push is a revisiting of the funding formula. This will only push Waukesha's tax burden even higher as Waukesha has a high property value per student.)
Milliman, Consultants and Actuaries, estimate that the School District of Waukesha, as of July 1, 2005, owes over $195 Million in post-employment benefit costs, including health benefits, life insurance, terminal bonuses (a check given upon retirement), unused sick leave and unused vacation days.
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Funding Education in Wisconsin |
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Thursday, 01 February 2007 |
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We are sure that this statement will shock this community: The Waukesha Taxpayers League agrees that we have an educational funding problem in Wisconsin.
While there may be widespread agreement with that statement, how we got into this predicament and, more importantly, how we resolve the funding issue is where disagreement exists.
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Read more...
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2006 School District Salary Study |
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Wednesday, 31 May 2006 |
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Updated: The 2007 Study has been released.
The WTL has released a report regarding the 3.8% QEO and the effect it has had on the School District of Waukesha teacher salaries.
Highlights from the Report:
- The average increase between the 2002/03 and 2003/04 school years was 6.89%.
- The average increase between the 2003/04 and 2004/05 school years was 4.58%.
- The average increase between the 2004/05 and 2005/06 school years was 6.79%.
- A teacher's family health insurance plan in 2005/06 cost $19142.88, fully funded by the taxpayers.
Summary:
Teacher Salaries and Benefits are rising much faster than the 3.8% rate defined in the QEO. As a result the portion of School budgets allocated to salaries and benefits is increasing at the expense of other areas.
Underpaid Teachers...Not Quite...JS Article here
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