Step hikes make it worse
The Californian doesn't like the governor's proposal to cut the school year ("Cut back the school year? Stupid and shortsighted," Our View, May 8). Good -- neither do I.
But not liking things won't bring spending in line with revenue, which is the only real way to solve California's budget gap. It's therefore puzzling that The Californian's editorial board would so quickly dismiss my proposal to protect scarce taxpayer dollars by curbing automatic pay increases for teachers --increases that have continued unabated despite California's economic and fiscal woes.
Many workers across our state, including both private and public employees, face layoffs and pay cuts. Regardless, many schoolteachers continue to receive these automatic "step and column" pay increases regardless of their school district's economic health or the quality of their teaching.
Contrary to The Californian's claim, teachers aren't "owed" these pay raises, and all teachers -- not merely a few on the lower side of the pay scale -- are eligible until they hit a maximum ceiling.
Perhaps The Californian's editors believe California taxpayers, who already bear the sixth-highest tax burden in the nation, should sacrifice even more of their paychecks to fund these automatic increases. I don't. It is more important than ever to ensure that every public dollar is carefully and strategically invested.
As the California experience has shown, higher taxes and spending do not necessarily guarantee improved educational results. But a better use of those dollars would do much to improve our classrooms.
GEORGE RUNNER
Board of Equalization, District 2
Sacramento
