Board talks school budget cuts

I wonder if the Board ever considered how much money would be saved if they agreed to waive their salary (or half of it) for just one year?

Just Wondering wrote:

I wonder if the Board ever considered how much money would be saved if they agreed to waive their salary (or half of it) for just one year?

. They are one of the lowest paid in louisiana get your facts straight

get real wrote:

<quoted text>. They are one of the lowest paid in louisiana get your facts straight

Regardless if they are one of the lowest paid in Louisiana or not, don't you think they should serve as board members as a public service if the system they serve is having a financial crisis?

Inquiring Minds 2 wrote:

<quoted text>
Regardless if they are one of the lowest paid in Louisiana or not, don't you think they should serve as board members as a public service if the system they serve is having a financial crisis?

When as the last time you served for nothing. Iove it when someone like you suggest, everyone else, who by the way has been serving for next to nothing but expenses, should give up their pay. Why don't you serve by making a tax free donation, you could tale it off of your taxes.

OKay wrote:

<quoted text>
When as the last time you served for nothing. Iove it when someone like you suggest, everyone else, who by the way has been serving for next to nothing but expenses, should give up their pay. Why don't you serve by making a tax free donation, you could tale it off of your taxes.

And yet another "genius" provides us with a thought provoking post. They truly are our there in obviously large numbers.

get real wrote:

<quoted text>. They are one of the lowest paid in louisiana get your facts straight

Get what facts straight? I posed a question. I did not state any facts. Whether our school board members are the highest paid in the state or the lowest paid in the state doesn't matter. No areas should be immune to cuts. I do know that legally you can not force them to accept less than the designated salary. However, I also know that the members can voluntarily agree not to accept the full amount of their salary. If budget cuts are in the future all areas should be considered.

Quote wrote:

<quoted text> And yet another "genius" provides us with a thought provoking post. They truly are our there in obviously large numbers.

That is the best you can do? It is really sad that true idiots like you pretty much dominate the West Feliciana parish landscape. Your answer to everything appears to based on entitlement! I will willing to bet you haven't served a day of your life!
Which branch of service were you in?
What elected or volunteer position have you performed in the past twenty years?
You are what makes West Feliciana, the haven of snobbery that it is.

I have zero connection to the school or the board, but you obviously think you have not only the right but the responsibility to make idiotic suggestions. As I saw somewhere "You couldn't find your ass with both hands and a flashlight". Another idiot, with an answer.

OKay wrote:

<quoted text>
That is the best you can do? It is really sad that true idiots like you pretty much dominate the West Feliciana parish landscape. Your answer to everything appears to based on entitlement! I will willing to bet you haven't served a day of your life!
Which branch of service were you in?
What elected or volunteer position have you performed in the past twenty years?
You are what makes West Feliciana, the haven of snobbery that it is.
I have zero connection to the school or the board, but you obviously think you have not only the right but the responsibility to make idiotic suggestions. As I saw somewhere "You couldn't find your ass with both hands and a flashlight". Another idiot, with an answer.

Thank you for having proven my point quite well.

OKay wrote:

<quoted text>
When as the last time you served for nothing. Iove it when someone like you suggest, everyone else, who by the way has been serving for next to nothing but expenses, should give up their pay. Why don't you serve by making a tax free donation, you could tale it off of your taxes.

You should have tried to stay awake more often during English classes.

Just Wondering wrote:

I wonder if the Board ever considered how much money would be saved if they agreed to waive their salary (or half of it) for just one year?

lmao!!! Ignorant post. Do you realize the board members make peanuts. Do me a favor and call the school board and discuss their pay and you will realize that they don't make enough to care about. Then realize the fact that the school is losing some of their funding because they ARE NOT taxing the citizens of West Feliciana the amount they should be which is a FACT. The school board has said they WILL NOT do a tax hike on the people of the parish and your response is take their peanut salary. Actually the school board members don't enough make enough to be a salary. Not even enough to be a second job. More like a child mowing a couple of lawns type money. WOOOHOOOO go you....you are such and informed citizen.

Inquiring Minds 2 wrote:

<quoted text>
Regardless if they are one of the lowest paid in Louisiana or not, don't you think they should serve as board members as a public service if the system they serve is having a financial crisis?

According to Bobby Jindal the west feliciana parish citizens is also the lowest taxed for their schools. So how about the citizens be ok with a tax hike so Jindal will give the school back the funds it lost? Did you know that? The school lost money because they will not even consider asking for taxes to be raised?? Also, I urge you to find out what you school board member makes?? Then call Zachary. They are not paid per say for being a member but the perks, things they do and places they go far outway what our school board members get.

the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sliced even more from the allocation, penalizing the parish for not taxing its citizens and property owners at a higher rate.

It amazes me that people can read the article on which this thread is based and make these kind of responses. My take on the article is the superintendent and board have taken a very considered, impartial and reasonable approach to solving a very significant problem only to be attacked unreasonably via an unrelated, emotional and insignificant sidetrack. If we have come to this on a larger scale than Topix posters how can we ever hope to make rational decisions in the voting booth or elsewhere?

I was under the impression that a tax increase was passed last year. I distinctly recall voting for a tax increase to save Tunica Elementary (atleast thats what I was told). If that is the case then why is that even an option right now.

Again as Lauren stated..regardless of a tax increase being voted on last year or the year before...WEST FELICIANA IS STILL UNDER TAXED AND SO IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS. The school system lost money from the state because of it. If you reread topix you will see how the parish loves to complain on here if any tax increase is imposed AND you complaining there has to be budget cuts now. You can not have it both ways people. Either pay up and shut up or put your big boy and girl pants on and deal with the changes. I agree with countyland that the school has done everything right and reasonable. Tunica kids are already being bused to the middle school and the high school. It makes total sense to complete that with the younger kids. I went to tunica until the 6th grade and then the high school so that was before the middle school. Being bused did not harm me nor my parents.

So Lets put this to a vote....who wants to approve the tax increase to meet the average that the board of elementary and secondary education has set. This will bring back some money we lost.

WhatThe- wrote:

I was under the impression that a tax increase was passed last year. I distinctly recall voting for a tax increase to save Tunica Elementary (atleast thats what I was told). If that is the case then why is that even an option right now.

That tax was not intended to "save Tunica", even though it probably did buy it some time. It was simply to keep up with the current budget at the time. The board asked for a minimal tax increase b/c they knew that anything more would get shot down. Now, you will see people coming out the woodwork complaining about the cuts and shutting down of a school. They'll be the same people that complained about a tax increase. And they'll be the same people complaining when their child is in a classroom of 35 students. WF residents simply do not pay enough in taxes. You have to prove to that you are willing and wanting to support yourself before the state will offer any more money. The state is cutting every possible penny they can, which trickles down to your local instituitions. People better be careful what they ask for, b/c they just might get it. And they are not going to like it!

Rick wrote:

Again as Lauren stated..regardless of a tax increase being voted on last year or the year before...WEST FELICIANA IS STILL UNDER TAXED AND SO IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS. The school system lost money from the state because of it. If you reread topix you will see how the parish loves to complain on here if any tax increase is imposed AND you complaining there has to be budget cuts now. You can not have it both ways people. Either pay up and shut up or put your big boy and girl pants on and deal with the changes. I agree with countyland that the school has done everything right and reasonable. Tunica kids are already being bused to the middle school and the high school. It makes total sense to complete that with the younger kids. I went to tunica until the 6th grade and then the high school so that was before the middle school. Being bused did not harm me nor my parents.
So Lets put this to a vote....who wants to approve the tax increase to meet the average that the board of elementary and secondary education has set. This will bring back some money we lost.

I have no problem paying my share to support the school system! If only everyone had the same mindset.

When a decision is made not to encourage SOME FORM of development and business growth, there is only one alternative. The current residents will bare the burden. Even if the decision is to provide the minimum services, and make cuts, the INDIVIDUALS will have to pay more. When you have a parish where, for what ever reasons, there are significant residents who do not work, don't own property, don't buy goods and services, etc then the few will be significantly taxed, just to keep doors open, much less excel.

What has differentiated West Feliciana from Pointe Coupee and East Feliciana for the past 30 years WAS the Nuc Plant. IT IS DONE, OVER, FINISHED, so it follows we will look like these two parishes real soon.

I am still concerned that no one is willing to address the significant surpluses in some agencies in the parish. Why is that a taboo subject?

How much land does the WF School Board own in this parish? How much of those lands are unused? How much funds could be raised from the sale of those funds? How much does it cost to pay taxes and keep liability insurance on these properties? Does the school board really need to hang on to these properties?

correction....from the sale of those lands.....