Letters to the Editor 03-12-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Wolkins Responds - Recycling - Medicare
Wolkins Responds
Editor, Times-Union:Re: Educational/Legislative priorities debate
Mr. Musgrave cited low pay for professors at IU and Purdue and low teacher salaries as proof education is not a priority. Facts: IU professors average $105,000+, Purdue $106,000+. The top 861 salaries at IU average $126,000 plus benefits. Indiana teachers earn an average of $43,000, ranking 16th in the U.S., 10th when low cost of living in Indiana is figured in. Indiana spends $5,700 average per student now, $3,724 in 1993, a 49 percent increase in 10 years. Mr. Musgrave, fabricating a quote and attributing it to me was a cheap shot and only hurts your credibility.
Mr. Sims is correct that the extra legislative session did raise taxes ($1.2 billion) but that it was not enough. What is enough? The extra session cost $375,668 additional, not the $600,000 he cites. Taxpayers were to get a 16 percent decrease in property tax for the 1-cent sales tax increase. The recently passed House budget takes $280 million of relief away, $380 million is taken from teacher retirement, $200 million of tobacco settlement is used and $50 million of money to secure deposits taken from the bankers' fund are used to give education a 2 percent increase. That budget spends over $1 billion more than revenues. Teachers have accepted minimal annual raises recently, but how do you think that sets with the thousands of state police, welfare workers, highway workers and other state employees that haven't seen any kind of raise for years?
Ms. Foster is correct about the inequity in the school funding formula. Some urban schools receive over $7,000 per student while schools in our area must do with around $5,000 per student. We've tried to make it fair but those currently in power like it the way it is. She faults Sen. Adams as irresponsible "by threatening to cut funds for children, services to the elderly and the needy." That's not a threat, just reality. There is no money. She also points out it is our responsibility to represent the "county and the children." May I add that we are also responsible to represent the elderly on fixed incomes, the unemployed like those from Dana Corp. and a very large group that pay the bills, the taxpayers, who are just now receiving their new reassessment notices. In the past three months I've had hundreds tell me to not raise taxes under any circumstance. Many related that they had to live within their means and it was about time state government did the same. At the same time I've received eight letters from taxpayers (all teachers) asking me to do "what is right" meaning raise taxes so that education will not have to operate on such a small increase. As a state representative, I have to listen to all sides and try to find a balance between all parties. If I'm drawing the wrong conclusions, let me know.
Dave Wolkins
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Recycling
Editor, Times-Union:The city of Warsaw has committed to curbside recycling by accepting a contract bid from Ameriwaste. In summary, the city will distribute, at no charge, a 40-gallon wheeled cart with hinged lid to all eligible households (all single-family dwellings, duplex dwellings and apartment dwellings with 4 units or less). Residents will simply place all approved recyclable materials in this one cart. They will not have to separate the different recyclables.
The garbage will continue to be picked up weekly on the normal pickup day by the city of Warsaw.
The recyclables will be picked up every other week by Ameriwaste on the residents' "normal" trash day.
Over the next four weeks, the city of Warsaw Curbside Waste Task Force will promote this program and give further details. This will be through newspaper advertisements and informational articles, television and radio public service announcements, and a public information meeting Tuesday at the Warsaw City Council chambers.
We hope everyone takes advantage of this information campaign and that the new curbside recycling program has a problem-free start the week of April 6.
Joe Thallemer
Chairman, Curbside Waste Task Force
City of Warsaw
via e-mail
Medicare
Editor, Times-Union:It is time the Democrats get on board and show some initiative. The president's plan is a good one, can no doubt be improved.
Congress really needs to do something to improve Medicare. When we all work together then we all win and we all get the credit for improving the quality of life, particularly in later years, when help is needed the most. It is long past time that partisan politics should end (though we all know it won't). I guess that is the nature of Congress, though. Hopefully this plan will see some action, particularly in the area of prescription drugs.
Jim and Janet White
Syracuse
via e-mail
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- Wolkins Responds - Recycling - Medicare
Wolkins Responds
Editor, Times-Union:Re: Educational/Legislative priorities debate
Mr. Musgrave cited low pay for professors at IU and Purdue and low teacher salaries as proof education is not a priority. Facts: IU professors average $105,000+, Purdue $106,000+. The top 861 salaries at IU average $126,000 plus benefits. Indiana teachers earn an average of $43,000, ranking 16th in the U.S., 10th when low cost of living in Indiana is figured in. Indiana spends $5,700 average per student now, $3,724 in 1993, a 49 percent increase in 10 years. Mr. Musgrave, fabricating a quote and attributing it to me was a cheap shot and only hurts your credibility.
Mr. Sims is correct that the extra legislative session did raise taxes ($1.2 billion) but that it was not enough. What is enough? The extra session cost $375,668 additional, not the $600,000 he cites. Taxpayers were to get a 16 percent decrease in property tax for the 1-cent sales tax increase. The recently passed House budget takes $280 million of relief away, $380 million is taken from teacher retirement, $200 million of tobacco settlement is used and $50 million of money to secure deposits taken from the bankers' fund are used to give education a 2 percent increase. That budget spends over $1 billion more than revenues. Teachers have accepted minimal annual raises recently, but how do you think that sets with the thousands of state police, welfare workers, highway workers and other state employees that haven't seen any kind of raise for years?
Ms. Foster is correct about the inequity in the school funding formula. Some urban schools receive over $7,000 per student while schools in our area must do with around $5,000 per student. We've tried to make it fair but those currently in power like it the way it is. She faults Sen. Adams as irresponsible "by threatening to cut funds for children, services to the elderly and the needy." That's not a threat, just reality. There is no money. She also points out it is our responsibility to represent the "county and the children." May I add that we are also responsible to represent the elderly on fixed incomes, the unemployed like those from Dana Corp. and a very large group that pay the bills, the taxpayers, who are just now receiving their new reassessment notices. In the past three months I've had hundreds tell me to not raise taxes under any circumstance. Many related that they had to live within their means and it was about time state government did the same. At the same time I've received eight letters from taxpayers (all teachers) asking me to do "what is right" meaning raise taxes so that education will not have to operate on such a small increase. As a state representative, I have to listen to all sides and try to find a balance between all parties. If I'm drawing the wrong conclusions, let me know.
Dave Wolkins
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Recycling
Editor, Times-Union:The city of Warsaw has committed to curbside recycling by accepting a contract bid from Ameriwaste. In summary, the city will distribute, at no charge, a 40-gallon wheeled cart with hinged lid to all eligible households (all single-family dwellings, duplex dwellings and apartment dwellings with 4 units or less). Residents will simply place all approved recyclable materials in this one cart. They will not have to separate the different recyclables.
The garbage will continue to be picked up weekly on the normal pickup day by the city of Warsaw.
The recyclables will be picked up every other week by Ameriwaste on the residents' "normal" trash day.
Over the next four weeks, the city of Warsaw Curbside Waste Task Force will promote this program and give further details. This will be through newspaper advertisements and informational articles, television and radio public service announcements, and a public information meeting Tuesday at the Warsaw City Council chambers.
We hope everyone takes advantage of this information campaign and that the new curbside recycling program has a problem-free start the week of April 6.
Joe Thallemer
Chairman, Curbside Waste Task Force
City of Warsaw
via e-mail
Medicare
Editor, Times-Union:It is time the Democrats get on board and show some initiative. The president's plan is a good one, can no doubt be improved.
Congress really needs to do something to improve Medicare. When we all work together then we all win and we all get the credit for improving the quality of life, particularly in later years, when help is needed the most. It is long past time that partisan politics should end (though we all know it won't). I guess that is the nature of Congress, though. Hopefully this plan will see some action, particularly in the area of prescription drugs.
Jim and Janet White
Syracuse
via e-mail
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