Comments on: A Way to Pay for School Pensioners http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:20:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Donald Deibert http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-12322 Donald Deibert Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:44:57 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-12322 A couple questions on your proposal Who would pay upwards of $30 billion to buy all school buildings without a guaranteed payment stream to recover the investment? The state is not reliable for providing funds and that is where the money would have to come from. Many schools are in a sad state of repair. That would take several additional billions to fix. Where would the funds to pay for that come from? The answer is easy, The state revenue and local millage. But here again, the reason they are not fixing things now is do not have the money to do now. The cost of normal repairs and maintenance. Most sale leasebacks agreements require that the lessee (school district) pay for the ongoing repair costs When schools are sold, it is usually for much less than the book value of the facility. You need to have some tough economic evaluation done on this proposal before you talk to much about it. The reputation of the Center for Michigan is at stake. A couple questions on your proposal

Who would pay upwards of $30 billion to buy all school buildings without a guaranteed payment stream to recover the investment? The state is not reliable for providing funds and that is where the money would have to come from.

Many schools are in a sad state of repair. That would take several additional billions to fix. Where would the funds to pay for that come from? The answer is easy, The state revenue and local millage. But here again, the reason they are not fixing things now is do not have the money to do now.

The cost of normal repairs and maintenance. Most sale leasebacks agreements require that the lessee (school district) pay for the ongoing repair costs

When schools are sold, it is usually for much less than the book value of the facility.

You need to have some tough economic evaluation done on this proposal before you talk to much about it.

The reputation of the Center for Michigan is at stake.

]]> By: Albert Swindle http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4966 Albert Swindle Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:21:11 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4966 First of All, WE all NEED to look at the expenses of operating a school system. In order to do this,take bids for a study of cutting costs for the district, something like the Grace Commission did for the federal government, except these suggestions on how to save money would be implented or used or adopted, and NOT neglected. I hve some other thoughts on this , but first let us have a study done and set a lmit as to how long the study should last. In Our Lord's Love Albert Commission First of All, WE all NEED to look at the expenses of operating a school system. In order to do this,take bids for a study of cutting costs for the district, something like the Grace Commission did for the federal government, except these suggestions on how to save money would be implented or used or adopted, and NOT neglected. I hve some other thoughts on this , but first let us have a study done and set a lmit as to how long the study should last.
In Our Lord's Love

Albert
Commission

]]> By: Frank Bommarito http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4886 Frank Bommarito Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:46:08 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4886 When we put ALL options on the table this is an idea that deserves a look. When looking at pensions more facts should be considered. 1) Selling building and leasing only what is needed could help in reconfiguring schools and districts based on changes in population. 2) Schools pensions are a part the State of Michigan pension system and when looking shouldn’t judges, legislators, state police and state employees all be considered at the same time since they all fit the same challenge and the taxpayers pocket. 3) It’s been recognized that educators are underpaid in comparison compared to what they make when they leave education. Several studies have said we need to raise salaries. 4) Most educators recognize they and many state employees are underpaid in salary and their pensions are the justification for such people to work in public positions for less $$ than what they would make in private industry. 5) In recognizing there are lots of options to consider, the idea is interesting yet I'm not sure we can discuss one and not ALL public pensions. 6) Lets not look at one time fixes. We will not be able to hire quality educators or public employees unless they are compensated properly. When we put ALL options on the table this is an idea that deserves a look. When looking at pensions more facts should be considered.
1) Selling building and leasing only what is needed could help in reconfiguring schools and districts based on changes in population.
2) Schools pensions are a part the State of Michigan pension system and when looking shouldn’t judges, legislators, state police and state employees all be considered at the same time since they all fit the same challenge and the taxpayers pocket.
3) It’s been recognized that educators are underpaid in comparison compared to what they make when they leave education. Several studies have said we need to raise salaries.
4) Most educators recognize they and many state employees are underpaid in salary and their pensions are the justification for such people to work in public positions for less $$ than what they would make in private industry.
5) In recognizing there are lots of options to consider, the idea is interesting yet I'm not sure we can discuss one and not ALL public pensions.
6) Lets not look at one time fixes. We will not be able to hire quality educators or public employees unless they are compensated properly.

]]> By: marketmaster http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4841 marketmaster Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:32:37 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4841 What center is this?? Bail on promises?? There is no center in this?? If michigan was booming, this center would from what I have read been calling the teachers a scapegoat. MESSA is a thrid party provider that pools. Which is what the UAW has lauded and recently done, but what Michigan has been trying to derail. I believe this site, from this posting, like the Mackinaw Center is not from the Center, but far from what is even correct. This really article really disturbs me. What center is this?? Bail on promises?? There is no center in this?? If michigan was booming, this center would from what I have read been calling the teachers a scapegoat. MESSA is a thrid party provider that pools. Which is what the UAW has lauded and recently done, but what Michigan has been trying to derail. I believe this site, from this posting, like the Mackinaw Center is not from the Center, but far from what is even correct. This really article really disturbs me.

]]> By: Jeff Salisbury http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4836 Jeff Salisbury Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:51:44 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4836 What? -- sell off school property to REITs? Or enter into long term contracts with them and become tenants? This idea is a cousin of the "Give us more but charge us less" mentality; "Fix the problem but don't ask me to help pay for it." Stop trying to invent new magic; none exists. Stop trying to fool people with sounds-too-quick-and-easy solutions. We can afford to own and manage our own school buildings. And we can afford to fund teacher pensions. Remember, in most states we pay teachers substantially less than private industry, for comparable education and preparation. And also remember that teachers pick up some of the cost themselves, through employee contributions. A decent pension is a small cost to bear; teachers do a job that most people wouldn't even touch. People, people, people....you will be so much happier when you finally grow up and realize that everything in this life has to be paid for. Everything. What? -- sell off school property to REITs? Or enter into long term contracts with them and become tenants?

This idea is a cousin of the "Give us more but charge us less" mentality; "Fix the problem but don't ask me to help pay for it."

Stop trying to invent new magic; none exists. Stop trying to fool people with sounds-too-quick-and-easy solutions.

We can afford to own and manage our own school buildings. And we can afford to fund teacher pensions. Remember, in most states we pay teachers substantially less than private industry, for comparable education and preparation. And also remember that teachers pick up some of the cost themselves, through employee contributions. A decent pension is a small cost to bear; teachers do a job that most people wouldn't even touch.

People, people, people....you will be so much happier when you finally grow up and realize that everything in this life has to be paid for. Everything.

]]> By: Frank Kalinski http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4771 Frank Kalinski Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:57:43 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4771 When I ran for School Board here in Livonia people would get so mad there eyes would bleed when I talked about selling off even a small portion of huge tracks of vacant land for housing. I agree 100% that we build huge, costly, bus dependent sports palaces now. The Governor is proposing smaller schools which would be much less costly to build (and tear down 30 years later!). The school buildings would match the goals of education: reading, math, english, languages,science, reading, reading! Property managemnet professionals could respond quickly with appropiate buildings as demographic and student needs change generation to generation. Modular building technology is amazing now. When I ran for School Board here in Livonia people would get so mad there eyes would bleed when I talked about selling off even a small portion of huge tracks of vacant land for housing.

I agree 100% that we build huge, costly, bus dependent sports palaces now. The Governor is proposing smaller schools which would be much less costly to build (and tear down 30 years later!). The school buildings would match the goals of education: reading, math, english, languages,science, reading, reading!

Property managemnet professionals could respond quickly with appropiate buildings as demographic and student needs change generation to generation. Modular building technology is amazing now.

]]> By: EW Bailey http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4760 EW Bailey Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:19:15 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/a-way-to-pay-for-school-pensioners/#comment-4760 Interesting idea! Interesting idea!

]]>