BOE: We Can't In Good Conscience Give Salary Increase

Editor's note: This piece was written by Jill Brown, Cranford Board of Education member. It has not been edited. If you'd like to submit a letter to the editor email whitney@patch.com.

I am writing this letter as a Board of Ed (BOE) member, Chair of the Budget Committee, and the Chair of the Negotiations Committee with the Cranford Education Association (CEA), in order to provide some facts and insights for the taxpayers.

1. The BOE and the CEA have been in negotiations for over one year.
2. The BOE received a bill for a 25 percent increase in the Health Benefits for the CEA, for the period of January 2010 to December 2010. This equates to approximately a $1.2 million increase.
3. The BOE notified the CEA of the health benefit increase and the CEA responded with a proposal for a four-year contract. It consisted of the first year as a pay freeze and each of years two, three, and four would be at 4.25 percent with no additional contributions to their health benefits. This compounded increase on the salary portion alone would be in the neighborhood of $3.5 million. Due to the economy, the BOE could not commit to a four-year contract at that rate along with the increase in health benefits.
4. The BOE appreciated the one year pay freeze offer and asked the CEA to consider the one year freeze while we took the time to understand the impact of the economy. The CEA would not accept the one year freeze without it being part of a four-year contract.
5. Two months ago, the state took $180,000 from our reserves to help overcome the state's budget deficit.
6. March 17, the state aid for 2010-2011 was cut 77 percent or $2.6 million.
7. The BOE has done a line-by-line review of the budget, cutting most areas by 10-20 percent. We didn't want to reduce our employees, but when 85 percent of a budget is salary and benefits, it has to come to that. There are also some areas that could not be touched, such as special education because of state and federal mandates, and salaries and benefits as they currently exist because they are contractual obligations. 
8. Staff cuts have been made in every other area of employment in the district.
9. The BOE asked the CEA twice to consider a pay freeze, as this would most likely save 8-10 positions if the budget vote was passed.
10. The CEA responded by asking the BOE to request the full 4 percent budget cap at the April 20 vote which would raise the taxes on the average assessed home even more than $209.

The BOE has been very conscientious in negotiations and the budget review to be fair to the students, the teachers, and the taxpayers. As you can see, our revenues are shrinking and yet the costs are rising.

When the economy was good and the BOE was allowed by law to request a 4 percent increase, the CEA was granted higher raises and we were able to maintain salaries consistent with the county average. In today's economy, where people have lost jobs, possibly homes, and endured escalating health care costs for themselves, the BOE can't in good conscience ask for 4 percent. Looking forward, the state is proposing a 2.5 percent budget cap for the 2011-2012 budget year and beyond.  So for all who are involved in Cranford's educational process, be it BOE, administrators or faculty, the times going forward will be challenging.

Please remember to vote on April 20th. 

Jill Brown
Cranford Board of Education