Minutes 06/08/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY JUNE 8, 1982 The School Board Board (has) proposed salary increases for teachers and administrators that are higher than the 10% increase suggested, (but) not funded by the State; higher than the increases granted by school boards of neighboring localities; higher than that requested of Council six months ago by the Martinsville Education Association; and higher than the salary increases granted to most of the taxpayers of Martinsville. Add to this the facts that our community unemployment stands now at 6%, that Council's requested cut of $84,000.00 is a relatively small amount when compared to the $7,565,000.00 school budget, and that the requested cut will still insure salary increases of at least 10% for teachers and probably more than 10% if the School Board takes cuts in areas other than personnel. These facts show, I think, that Council's decision to cut $84,000.00 from the school budget is certainly not arbitrary nor is it a strike at our fine teachers and school system. To the contrary, the cut--along with other reductions in the City Budget--will provide equitable salary increases for City and School employees and, at the same time, give a much-needed 6~% property tax reduction to our citizens during this time of high unemployment and a poor economy. On February 2nd, when I announced that I was stepping down from office, I stated, "The City has big challenges and the first is increasing teachers' salaries to ensure continued good education in the City." I think that school teachers made improvement in their salaries this year and will do so again next year. This year, teachers' salaries increased an average of 12.9%; and, next year, depending on where the School Board cuts $84,000.00, teachers' average raises should be at least 10%, and probably more. I hope that members of City Council and the School Board will do whatever possible in the years to come to see that our teachers' salaries continue to improve. At the same time, I urge teachers, school administrators, the School Board, and other interested parties to under- stand that in any given year City Council must try and be fair to every- one -- fair to the teachers, fair to other City employees, and fair to the people who must pay for all of this, the taxpayers of Martinsville. I think (that) this budget is fair and I will support it. Upon motion to adopt the 1982-83 City Budget, as revised, and to establish property tax rates, as tentatively established for 1982-83, the motion being duly seconded, and by a recorded vote of four-to-one (Vice Mayor Cole voting against the motion and all other members of Council voting affirmatively) Council adopted said revised 1982-83 City Budget and established 1982-83 property tax rates through its adoption of the following ordinance appropriating funds and setting said tax rates for 1982-83: