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This operational Override of 2006 was predicted back in 2004
right after the School Committee negotiated the last teachers contract .
The override was predicated on the following assumptions:
- The teachers union was given a 3% per year increase.
- Forty five percent of teachers get a 3% to 4% step increase
- Health insurance costs continues to climb
- State aid declines or increases slightly.
- Our town manager doesn't do layoffs
- Our town manager won't sell any of
our $45 million disposable real estate portfolio
Beyond this, there is a conflict of interest between school committee members
who receive campaign funds from the teachers unions and then are involved
in the teacher union contract negotiations.
This issue makes it difficult for the town government to restrain it's
spending to the limits of Proposition 2 1/2. Let's simplify it for
them by telling them NO! NO! NO! on any overrides.
There are several things to consider here....
- Ninety percent of the Town of Framingham's employees are unionized.
- Most collective bargaining units established new contracts in fiscal
2005.
- The sole purpose of a union
is to increase the pay and benefits of it's members.
- In 2006, new revenues from our Proposition 2 1/2 increase and new
growth was $5.6 million.
- In 2006, the second year after the new collective bargaining unit
contracts, the town was short of funds and squirmed itself out of
it by trimming staff.
- Consider the
regressive nature
of property taxes.
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hjw2001@rcn.com
