FW: [Winona] Media Reporting Local Facts Budget

[Paul Double]

Anne and others   I do not disagree that " the full and complete story of our budgetary problems will take a while to unfold".  The problem is the media is giving more attention to the down side as if they are reporting "the complete story" rather than presenting a balanced picture including the increases "in real money" which K-12 Education is to receive adding to that the money budgeted for salary increases which will flow to the General Fund fund balance leaving our district in a better financial condition a year from now.  The earlier expenses are reduced the greater the impact in the long haul because those savings are compounded every year thereafter.   I may be wrong on some of my assumptions so I try to ask the questions which will lead to the correct "and" complete information being reported.   If the soft freeze was a medium freeze allowing only lane change increases would that add another year in the model as the steps may have a higher dollar impact than the grid percentage?   Would that enable no k-5 schools to be closed or is that issue dead?     Paul Double [EMAIL PROTECTED]      PS At least the Governor had the strength and leadership to make a decision knowing that solving the problem is more important than protecting his political future.     ________________________________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: Anne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:18 PM To: Paul Double; Online Democracy Subject: Re: [Winona] Media Reporting Local Facts Budget   Let me suggest why specific information is not fothcoming as quickly as you might like.  In contrast to previous governors' practices when submitting their budgets, this time there was a great deal less specificity related to particular line items proposed for cuts.  It has therefore been difficult to learn those all-important details.   I'm afraid the full and complete story of our budgetary problems will take a while to unfold.   The governor also diverged from past practice in his decision to allow only members of his political party to be present at the traditional pre-announcement briefings.    Anne Morse ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Double To: Online Democracy Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 5:57 PM Subject: [Winona] Media Reporting Local Facts Budget   I ask again when will the public be provided with an assessment of the "real dollar" impact of the Governor's proposal.  What we hear in media sound bites is the sun has fallen, things will change and we need money, money, and money.    What we read between the lines is the reductions in LGA formula will be offset by a statewide wage freeze which indicates nothing "should" change for taxpayers except the new rain tax.  K-12 education gets a formula increase in real dollars and the so called wage freeze doesn't  include steps which for most of us means a guaranteed increase doing the same work because we got older and wiser and became teachers working longer as teachers.  I agree lane changes should be approved and paid.  The media numbers from the county would indicate that county government has the most to save by the wage freeze however they received the least media focus and it would appear the bulk of their impact will be in Social Services.  Highway spending may even be increased as a means to get people working and to pump money into the construction industry.   Will someone in the media take the time to lay it out for as it stands it appears for every cut in revenue the state enabled a reduction in cost thus the proposals are tax neutral?????   The colleges are filled to capacity with enrollment up and students standing in line.  Their campus cost is fixed and administration numbers not increasing.  Most manufacturing companies would be delighted with this scenario as it should mean bottom line will get much better as their unit cost goes down.  What is wrong with this picture.  Help us understand.   People want to understand but we need good information to achieve consensus.