Barrington Enlightened Taxpayers Association

April Newsletter

2011-03-22T11:31:00.000-05:00

School Board Election April 5, 2011
On April 5, 2011, three
candidates will be elected
to four-year terms on the
seven member District 220 Board
of Education.
Five candidates are seeking the
three seats. Four of the five will
appear on the ballot by name:
Tom Antoine (construction manager
and real estate attorney),
Brian Battle (current Board
President, and the only incumbent
candidate), Richard
Burkhart (retired Oracle Corp.
executive) and Joseph Ruffolo
(Leyden Township District 212
Teacher). The fifth candidate,
Jim Mayer (commodities trader),
is running as a write-in candidate.
As a taxpayer in District 220 your
vote is important in determining
the future direction of the
District.
Barrington Enlightened Taxpayers
Association has closely followed
the decisions made by the Board
of Education over many years.
The past five years and the next
five years are of particular interest
regarding this next election.
Summary of the Issues
Again the District is in the midst
of a massive effort to identify cost
reductions, excluding the costs of
the collective bargaining agreement
with the teachers, because
there would otherwise be a
budget deficit for next year.
The long term Projection shows
increasingly larger budget deficits
for each year through 2016, the
last year in the Projection. As a
consequence, if the deficits are
not eliminated the current $42
million “fund balance” declines to
$17.6 million at the end of 2016,
well below the minimum level
called for in the Board’s Fund
Balance Policy. This Policy was
first adopted in 2004 to help
ensure a sound financial position
and a strong bond rating.
Costs continue to grow at a faster
rate than revenues. This is not a
sustainable economic model for
District 220. BETA believes that
the cost growth can not be managed
by limiting the cost reduction
efforts to costs other than
the teachers’ contract.
As described in detail later in this
letter, the current and the prior
teachers’ contracts are significant
drivers of the cost growth rate.
As you evaluate which candidates
you will vote for, ask each candidate
for their assessment of the
looming deficits and what they
would do as responsible members
of the Board of Education to
eliminate the deficits. Ask yourself
if you are satisfied with the
performance of the current Board
in this regard.
Current Situation
The Board of Education is in the
midst of preparing the Budget for
the next fiscal year. Based on the
most recent Projection, the Board
has announced that the costs in
the 2012 preliminary budget must
be reduced in order to have a balanced
budget. Because the salary
and related benefit costs for
teachers are covered by a collective
bargaining agreement, those
costs have not been part of the
cost reduction effort. Such costs
account for approximately 56% of
the annual total costs in the
Education Fund. The cost reduction
target is in the $2 million
range (less than 2% of total
projected costs for all District
Funds for 2012).
In order to achieve the targeted
cost reduction, a massive effort
to identify specific reductions has
been underway for months with a
March 15 deadline for finalization.
The timing of the deadline has to
do with the need to give timely
notice to staff of possible layoffs.
Time has been devoted at school
board meetings for public comment,
most of which has come
from district employees, parents
and students. Significant work
has been done by district staff in
identifying potential cuts and
implications.
(continued on page 2)
As you evaluate which candidates you will vote for, ask each candidate for their assessment
of the looming deficits and what they would do as responsible members of the
Board of Education to eliminate the deficits. Ask yourself if you are satisfied with the
performance of the current Board in this regard.
Barrington Enlightened Taxpayers Association (BETA)
P.O. Box 1522
Barrington, IL 60011
Presort STD
US Postage
PAID
Barrington, IL 60011
Permit No. 87
The Projection shows increasingly
larger budget deficits for each
year through 2016, the last year
in the Projection. As a consequence,
the current $42 million
“fund balance” declines to $26.5
million at the end of 2015 and
$17.6 million at the end of 2016.
In each case, the balance is below
the range set by the Board in the
Fund Balance Policy first adopted
in 2004. The Policy specifies a
Fund Balance of not less than
25% of annual revenue and not
more than 40% of such revenue. If
the balance falls below 25%,
annual surpluses are to be budgeted
until the minimum balance
is achieved.
Recent Teachers’ Contract
History
On November 3, 2009 the Board
announced that agreement was
reached on a new three-year
contract with the teachers. As
discussed in the BETA January
2010 newsletter, the contract
terms were a significant disappointment.
In January 2009 BETA
initiated a taxpayer awareness
campaign and a dialogue with the
Board and District Administration
regarding the then impending
negotiation of a new teachers’
contract. The purpose of the
initiative was to encourage taxpayer
input and make certain the
Board was informed of the views
of taxpayers prior to commencement
of negotiations. Concerns
expressed by BETA included:
• The new contract should freeze
compensation in light of the
economic conditions
• The significant deterioration of
the economy, job loss, wage
cuts, declining property values
• The then current teachers’
contract running through
August 2009 provided raises
ranging from over 6% to almost
10% per year over three years
The new contract provides
the following average salary
increases based on all positions
in the salary grid:
•Year 1 – 4.8%, with a range of
3.5% to 5.6% (last school year)
•Year 2 – 6.5%, with a range of
5.3% to 7.4% (this school year)
•Year 3 – 5.3%, with a range of
4.0% to 6.1% (next school year)
Looking at the combined
impact of the current and prior
contracts:
• A teacher who was in Masters
Degree lane, Step 4 (three years
of experience) in the last year of
the prior contract would receive
an aggregate 15.4% increase
over the three years of the new
contract.
• A teacher who was in Masters
Degree lane plus 30 hours, Step
10 (nine years of experience) in
the last year of the prior contract
would receive an aggregate
18.4% increase over the three
years of the new contract.
• A teacher who was in Masters
Degree lane plus 45 hours, Step
14 (thirteen years of experience)
in the last year of the
prior contract would receive an
aggregate 19.5% increase over
the three years of the new contract.
That same teacher would
have been in Step 12 in year 1 of
the prior contract and the
increase from that point to the
end of the new contract would
be 41.8%, over five years.
The District 220 documents
referred to herein are available
on the 220 website (barrington220.
org). Calculations used
herein were made based on such
documents.
www.betaonline.us
(continued from page 1)

Alert

2011-01-31T11:08:00.000-06:00

The Agenda published January 28, 2011 on the District’s website for the February 1, 2011 Board meeting includes Action Item V, titled:

Consideration to Approve Settlement Agreement Between Lake County Board of Review, Cuba Township Assessor, Barrington Venture LLC, and District 220 Regarding The Garlands of Barrington Assessment Litigation

This same item was on the January 11 meeting agenda as a Consent Agenda item. At that meeting the Board chose not to act at that time. Five speakers, including BETA, rose at that meeting to question what this was all about and the Board did not respond or comment on the questions.

At this next meeting the Board will discuss the Settlement Agreement among themselves during the public portion of the meeting. Therefore, attendees at the meeting will be able to listen, but there is no plan for a dialog between the Board and the audience. The public has two opportunities to address the Board at the meeting: the “Citizens’ Comments” time at the very beginning of the meeting, and if necessary, at the very end of the meeting if citizens have remaining comments. Of course, citizens can contact the Board and the Administration individually at any time to discuss this matter – contact information is listed on the District 220 website (barrington220.org).

Since January 11 we have learned that the Settlement Agreement does in fact relate to the Garlands assessed valuation for property tax purposes. It appears that the Garlands is seeking a multi-year reduction of assessed valuation and the Settlement Agreement would accomplish the reduction. The result would be reduction of property taxes.

There remain significant unanswered questions, including:

Why is District 220 involved and proposing to enter this Agreement?

Why is the matter not going to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board?

What are the specific terms of the Agreement?

How would the rest of the taxpayers and taxing bodies be impacted?

If you are concerned about the proposed Settlement Agreement attend the meeting and ask your questions and express your view, or contact the Board and Administration directly before Tuesday evening.

The Public portion of the meeting is scheduled for 7:30pm Tuesday February 1, 2011 in the Guidance Resources Center at Barrington High School. The Board discussion of this topic will take place late in the meeting.

BETA Annual Meeting May 20 2010

2010-04-21T11:56:00.004-05:00

Keep the date open 7PM , Barrington Area Library.

Special guest speakers will include, school board president Mr Brian Battle, of your CUSD 220, Mrs Mary Vanek , of Palatine.

Mrs . Vanek was instrumental in getting 7,508 voters to sign a petition to block School District 15's 27 million loan and force the issue to a public vote in the November general election. Thus sending a message that free spending days are over.

Mrs. Vanek and her group of citizens had only 30 days to meet the deadline. Mary stated"We didn't run out of signers; we ran out of time," "Once people became aware of what the school board is trying to do, we couldn't get people to sign fast enough."

Be sure to check out Dist. 15 School Board Watcher Blog, Click the title above for a direct link.

A Rally For The Wrong Reason

2010-04-21T06:44:00.003-05:00

Today , Illinois Teachers Union, Barrington Education Association, Barrington School Employee Organization, are holding a rally in Springfield today. There goal is to have state legislators raise state income taxes, and stop the threat of two-tier pensions.

The teachers are allowed to have a substitute for todays Rally.

Think this would fly in the public sector ?

Are you comforted by their "Do It For The Children" ,spirit ?

Click the title above for a direct link to SOS propaganda

School Website Overhaul

2010-04-08T18:49:00.005-05:00

Barrington CUSD 220 paid $28,725.23 , that means you, paid for the new website.

The up keep is $8,381 for the two subsequent years.

Now you know.

For a direct link to see your purchase, click on the above title.

Stability Trumps Fiscal Responsibility

2010-04-08T17:21:00.004-05:00

Board of Education has given Dr Tom Leonard a contract extension , along with a very sweet 6% yearly pay increase until his 2014 retirement.

“Dr. Leonard provides exceptional leadership during these uncertain and challenging times,” said Board of Education President, Brian Battle. “As a board, we agree with the need to maintain the stability and continuity he provides in guiding Barrington 220 both academically and financially.

The worst part of these salary increases, is that they are occurring hand-in-hand with a $2.4 million cut to services affecting students - including layoffs of some nontenured teachers.

For a direct link , click on title.

CUSD220 Top 10 Salary

2010-03-25T12:11:00.004-05:00

Leonard, Thomas $220,066

Kolman-Laube, Alena $192,922

Frisch, Gary $179,359

Gilmore, Michael $172,965

Johann, Michael $168,046

Cross, Deborah $166,354

Kalogeropoulos, Cynthia $155,657

Fessler, Arthur $150,046

Winkelman, Craig $140,886

Bjorkman, Bonnie $140,863

To see entire CUSD220 2009 salaries, click on title above for a direct link.

Board cuts budget

2010-03-03T09:11:00.005-06:00

The latest , Barrington 220 Board of Education voted to trim approximately $2.4 million from an estimated $120 million budget for the 2010-11 school year.

To view all 32 pages in pdf, click title above for a direct link.

A Perfect World

2010-03-03T06:40:00.004-06:00

Imagine how sweet it would be to never take a cut in pay, or have wages froze.

Imagine a pay increase in spite of being surrounded by economic blight.

In reality this world does exist, for the teachers and administrators of CUSD 220

" BETA's response to School Board Budget Cuts

2010-02-24T09:44:00.002-06:00

This was sent to CUSD220 board members.

Subject: Budget Cuts

Dear Board Members:

As the President of BETA, and a concerned taxpayer in this district, I attended the School Board Meeting/Public Hearing last night regarding the school board's proposed budget cuts. I did not go there to speak, nor did I, but went merely to listen to what people had to say. I am sending you this email to give you my thoughts on the entire matter.

First, this was a PUBLIC MEETING for parent/taxpayers of this district. I find it quite insulting that 65% of the room was filled with teachers and administrators all expressing their concerns. The teachers had their chance to speak to the board during negotiations of their 3 year contract and yet they have the nerve to appear at this public hearing to express their concerns because their jobs are on the line. Where were their concerns about the students when they were demanding increases and a golden contract? Melanie Collins who spoke on behalf of the BEA had a lot of nerve even showing up at this meeting! She had no business at this public hearing and certainly no business speaking on this matter.

Next, you as a Board knew back in 2008 that we were facing some difficult times, yet you gave the teachers a 3-year contract increasing their pay with a minimum 3.9% raise, giving them health benefits, increased their stipends, and increased everything else across the board. Where did your responsibility to the parents, taxpayers and students come into play during these negotiations? Those increases amount to approximately more than $3 Million just for the first year. The administrators were next in line to get raises pending the outcome of the teachers contract. How much more did the administrators get that affect these salary increases?

You are now suggesting budget cuts for about $3.4 Million which coincidentally is just about the same amount you increased the teacher pay and benefits and possibly administrators. Do you see any correlation here? You are going to be increasing class sizes yet the teachers contract states that if student class sizes are more than 29 you have to pay the teachers extra monies. So here we go again, more money in the teachers pockets. When are they going to be told enough is enough?

You are also talking about cutting down on maintenance for the buildings. Don't you think by doing that you will put our buildings in jeopardy? I am sure if you cut down on maintenance you will be asking for a referendum in a few years so you can fix up the mess you have caused.

When is this ever going to be about the students and taxpayers? BETA suggested to you over and over not to give the teachers raises, suggested to you that the student population was on a decrease, gave you other suggestions and yet you continually ignored anything we had to say. BETA speaks on behalf the taxpayers in this district. Your board apparently lacks any representation of taxpayers or students on any of these matters.

You as a Board have mismanaged this district and it is the students and taxpayers who must suffer for your negligent acts. I suggest you go back to the drawing board and get your acts together and start representing the taxpayers and students rather than the teachers!

Carol Schubert

President

BETA

True Fact # 10

2010-02-23T09:05:00.002-06:00

CUSD 220 has received $ 569264.32 of your federal stimuli dollars. Source ,recovery.illinois.gov

Barrington Unit District 220

2010-02-21T09:39:00.002-06:00

Mark the date, 23 Feb. 7P, Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St. The school board will be holding a meeting to unveil proposed budgets cuts and are soliciting public input before they sign off on the plan. We will see you there!

True Facts # 7 ,8,9

2010-02-06T11:48:00.004-06:00

Did you know that Barrington library trustees can not be reached by calling the library?

Did you also know they do not have an E-mail address posted on library website?

Did you hear they seek 15% tax increase in it's tax levy for 2009 ?

Latest Newsletter

2010-02-06T10:51:00.003-06:00

We encourage you to relax and perhaps take a seat by your fireside as you read our latest newsletter. Get the skinny on Cuba township's budget reduction, 2 years in a row. Find out why the library wants your check book to remain open during these difficult times. See the sweet contract your school board approved for CUSD220 teachers. Go here and see the facts now. http://www.betaonline.us/

What's your opinion?

2009-03-01T10:28:00.002-06:00

Let us know how you feel about the District 220 School Board and negotiations with the teachers union.

2009 Tax Levy Increase Excessive

2009-02-06T17:06:00.001-06:00

Letter to the editor

2009 Tax Levy Increase Excessive

Barrington , hold on to your hats! Despite the turmoil in our economy Barrington CUSD220 School Board Trustees decided to ask for a 15% increase in the tax levy. Yes, that’s 15%. The School Board has stated they know they will not get that amount of increase because of the CPI and Tax Caps. The School Board always employs this technique in order to capture the maximum amount of dollars.

For the year ending June 2008, the District received $10 Million more in revenues than the year before and expended $15 Million more than the year before. According to the School Board Trustees that is called “fiscal responsibility.”

Now here is the feather in the hat. Barrington CUSD220 will soon (if they are not already) be involved in teacher contract negotiations for the period beginning 9/2009. The last teachers’ contract was negotiated during a good economy, full of perks and substantial increases and not necessarily the best contract for taxpayers. We MUST watch the School Board to make sure they do not negotiate a contract that is unsustainable. Many school districts are cutting expenditures at this time because of the current economy. Everyone should be aware of this situation and let your voice be heard.

Carol Schubert

Will the school board and union be responsible?

2009-02-06T17:03:00.001-06:00

To the editor:

I would like to thank the Cuba Township board of trustees for its recent decision to shelve a tax rate increase. They considered that while the economy is in recession and people are struggling, that they would tighten their belts just like the rest of us. Thank you Cuba Township for all you do and your careful consideration.

The township portion of our property tax bill is only a fraction compared to the school district portion. 2/3 to ¾ of the bill goes to School District 220 and the bulk of that goes to salaries and benefits, contractually prescribed. Our current obligation expires end August ’09 so negotiations should soon be underway for the next 3 years arrangement.

The prior contract gave the teachers 5% in 2008-09 plus a 2-4% “step increase”, most totaling 7.5% to over 8%, some reaching almost 10%. The medical plan is paid 100% by the taxpayers. Dental, long term disability and a $35,000 life insurance benefit are all gratis. Retirement bonuses from $17,500-$45,000 depending on years worked but retirement as early as age 55 with as much as 75% of the 4 highest of your final 10 years would be a dream for the “regular Joe”. And add in a 3% cost of living increase every year. 12-23 paid sick days plus 2 “personal” days per year that can be accumulated; all of this adds up to an extremely generous package especially combined with an AVERAGE salary of almost $66,000. (2007).

I would ask the union and the school board to be as responsible as our township has been. Many in the private sector have taken reductions to keep jobs and businesses. Neighboring school districts are also reducing expenditures. Our district should be equally responsible.

Christine Boreland

BETA Comments

2009-02-01T14:31:00.008-06:00

The current teachers’ contract was finalized in December 2005 for a 3-year term beginning September 2006 and expires August 2009. That contract provided very generous pay increases over the three-year period. It also continued the practice of paying for a significant portion if not all of the cost of teacher benefits.

Since these negotiations lack any public scrutiny let alone citizen input, this lack of transparency in the process does raise questions. Some might suggest that the School Board will act responsibly without public input, but their history has not suggested that. In that light, BETA makes the following observations and suggests actions on the part of the BETA membership and citizens.

Will the School Board and the union make the right decision relative to teachers' pay and fall in line with the pay practices now being enacted across the country during these troubled times or will teachers’ receive generous increases as they did under the last contract? Some teachers received increases in excess of 8% for the school year 2008 – 2009.

Taxpayers residing in CUSD220 have seen the value of their homes decrease and many aregiving up their raises or are being asked to work a shorter work week in order for their employer to survive. Will the teachers' union acknowledge the reality of the economy in their negotiations and consider the affordability of the cost of their contract decisionsto the taxpayers?
Will the union and the School Board look for ways to reduce spending in order to minimize the tax impact on taxpayers living in the District? Many taxpayers do not realize that as their home values fall and as the taxing bodies continue to increase their tax levy requests, ultimately their property taxes must increase to fund the operating budgets of the various taxing bodies. The tax levy drives the amount of taxes we pay! The escalating cost of operating our schools is not sustainable at which point the system will be in crisis.

BETA Calls on the CUSD 220 School Board to Take Action

2009-02-01T14:12:00.006-06:00

Reduce spending and enact scrupulous expense control .

Reduce compensation expenses and growth in teaching staff. Freezing salaries for teachers may be appropriate in the early years of the new contract.

Examine the cost of teacher benefits and bring line with corporate America practices:

The Board pays for a Dental program for the teacher (page 47 CUSD220/BEA contract)
The Board pays 100% of individual coverage and 50% of dependent coverage for medical (page 47)
The Board pays for Life Insurance coverage of $35,000 (page 47)
District provides for the full cost of long-term-disability coverage (page 46)
In corporate America, employees share in the cost of these benefits or do not have them at all

Abate the growth in teacher counts and effect staffing reductions as appropriate.

Aggressively reevaluate Work Rules to assure that they are not driving up staffing needs unnecessarily.

BETA calls for citizens to express their opinion

2009-02-01T13:59:00.005-06:00

Every taxpayer in District 220 needs to take action

Write email to the School Board members. Use one click here to bring up your email client, write your comments and send them to all the members at the same time. Individual email addresses are available at http://www.betaonline.us/ in the Contact section of the site.
Visit the BETA Blog web http://betamembers.blogspot.com/ for a continuing flow of information which provides you with the opportunity to share your views with the community. BETA plans to communicate with School Board members and share commentary. Be sure to save the BETA Blog in your Favorites.
Send letters to the editor of the Daily Herald and the Barrington Courier. Click links for email address.
Attend Board meetings and present your comments. The next several board meetings are: February 3, February 17, March 3, March 17, April 7 and April 21.

TRS Federal Legislative Update

2009-01-25T14:46:00.001-06:00

TRS Federal Legislative Update
Illinois Teachers do not pay Social Security Taxes