Originally Posted By Mr X Anyone else freaked out by the coincidental date here? Some blogger wrote earlier this week "you just THINK the markets are smashed now". Yikes. (if anyone needs me, I'll be in my bunker)
Originally Posted By Mr X 10:35am DJIA -440 (5%) Okay...I'm going to hide now. I hope things improve soon! I really do!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 let me give you a trickle downmost people don't think of. As I have mentioned in the past I am a memberof alocal school board. This district serves a little over 30,000 kids in what wouldbe considered an affluent area where property taxes arethe major impact on school funding. For instance an $800,000 home ( median here ) - generates $20,000 a year in property taxes - 80%+ ofwhich fundsour schools - little state help at all. Sinceproperty values are down about 15% in the last 24 months - and heading further down - there is going to be a 'serious' shortfall in funding very shortly when all of this catches up. Add thisis quickly escalating operating costs - transportation, heat/ electricity etcandtrouble ! Pass an additional operation referendum you say, in today's market - yeah right. Looking at future teacher cuts,program cuts etc. a lot of people are only looking at stock prices and 401ks' - there are a lot of other factors being severely affected right now -- the reason I can;t drink the'all is well ' koolaid
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<For instance an $800,000 home ( median here ) - generates $20,000 a year in property taxes - 80%+ ofwhich fundsour schools - little state help at all. >> That's a lot of dough. The median property tax bill in our town is less than 1/10 of that amount. And yet the schools are open, roads are paved (and plowed in the winter), etc.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 a portion of our tax dollars earmarked for schools are redistributed by the state of Illinois to the Chicago Public Schools which are a freakin mess ( even though Obama looking to make their chief - Arne Duncamn secr'y of Education) - Here's the kicker- by the time all things are done and said the schools in my suburban area spends less per student $10K vs almost $12K per student in Chicago. Our area receives almost $0 from state funds.( there are Title 1 funds received - small amount). The property taxes are the only way to fund our areas schools. The Reverand Meeks here has led 2major protests, including one outside Wrigley Field ( the other pulling kids from schools) demanding an even bigger slice of the pie. By the way - Rev Meeks a pivotal figure in the Obama re-election efforts here- you'll see him with Oprah at the vivtory rally -- congratulations though - this wonderful group is headed your way --
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<a portion of our tax dollars earmarked for schools are redistributed by the state of Illinois to the Chicago Public Schools which are a freakin mess ( even though Obama looking to make their chief - Arne Duncamn secr'y of Education) >> You guys need TABOR! Our school districts in Colorado would slobber like hungry dogs at the prospect of $10-12K per student (more like $5K). How much are your teachers paid?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 my daughter just started at $38,000 / yr and another $5,000 for coching VB. It varies by district, I'd say we're slightly under the median in the area 15 years with a masters degree about $75K
