I went to a budget meeting at the Pine Bush School District and I must say that I think that the Superintendent, administration and board did a fine job in putting together a budget that spreads the cuts around equally. The only thing that I am not happy with is the budget increase of 3.99%. I find it way too much for the home owner/taxpayer in these difficult times to pay.

Eighty percent of the budget goes towards salaries and benefits for the people working in the district. Many community members have backed the teachers and their union for years. They have voted to allow pay increases, better health care coverage and better retirement coverage for our teachers. The community now feels in these difficult times that the teachers and their union should bite the bullet and tighten their belts. The teachers are now negotiating a new three-year contract and we the taxpayer feel that they should agree to freeze their salaries at their current level for the next three years. They would still receive around 3% for their step increase which they automatically get.

The teachers in our district are only paying 8% towards their health care which amounts to only around $1,200 per year. The cost to the district is about $18,000 per year for a teacher's family plan. It is time that they pay more towards their health coverage because we have people in our community paying $1,500 to $3,000 a month for their health care coverage. Teachers should pay a minimum of 16 percent towards their health care.

The district has decided to keep 70 percent of the sports programs and other curricular activities in the 2010-11 budget. Teachers who run these programs are paid a stipend over and above their regular salaries. They receive anywhere from $2,500 to $6,900, including benefits, to coach these various programs. If the teachers really believe what they are always saying "It's For The Children" then why not take a 50-percent reduction in the stipends that they are paid for these extra activities for the next two or three years? They would show the community who have been very good to the teachers over the years that they really mean what they say.

Our district has a shortfall of over five-million dollars and we are in very difficult times. If all the teachers in our district would pay an additional 8 percent towards their health care and coaching positions agree to take a 50-percent reduction in their stipend this would save the district almost one-million dollars. If these million dollars were taken out of the budget it would lower the tax increase from 3.00 percent to 0.50 percent, and this lower increase would help many in our community to stay in their homes in these very difficult times.

We are asking our Superintendent and School Board to be very diligent and firm when they meet with the teachers union to formulate a new teacher's contract. We do not want to see a replay of the last contract when the interim superintendent Bill Basset and the board caved into the teacher's demands and gave away the kitchen sink. The teachers and their union should come to the table knowing that the community is hurting and cannot afford anymore increases in this terrible economy.

Remember you cannot get blood out of a stone. Look around in our community and you will see many homes for sale or being foreclosed. People are coming to board meetings telling you that they just cannot afford to pay any more. Teachers and their union, should do the right thing and for once give back to the community to help to stop the bleeding. Remember, in good times the community has always worked with you. Now it is the teachers turn to work with the community. It's time to do the right thing!