Like a pendulum, the county commissioners swung back and forth Monday on whether to add $28.5 million to the budget.
At first, the commissioners voted along party lines with all four Democrats supporting adding the money and all three Republicans in opposition. But the vote later switched to 6-1 amid questions about how they'd fund the additional spending.
"We're now officially the most dysfunctional board in Wake County," said Commissioner Tony Gurley. "I used to think the school board was."
The meeting opened with Commissioner Stan Norwalk proposing a motion to add $5.6 million to the human services budget, $2.7 million to the school system's budget and $212,000 to keep Athens Drive Library open to the public.
Norwalk also wanted to establish a temporary reserve of $20 million to deal with potential state funding cuts, especially in education.
"Do we really want the school system to be set back through the loss of so many teachers?" Norwalk said.
Norwalk wanted to to fund the reserve by delaying some capital projects. The length of the delay would depend on what the state provides when it finally adopts a budget.
Norwalk proposed getting the other $8.5 million from cuts to other parts of the budget.
After approving the motion 4-3, the commissioners then proceeded to review the budget. But after commissioners couldn't agree on where to come up with the $28.5 million, they revoted and dropped the original motion.
Norwalk was the lone dissenter in the second vote.
"It was a complete waste of a day," Gurley said.
The commissioners will discuss the budget and potentially adopt it on June 15.
Comments
House leaders said the
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 17:43 — AngelaWHouse leaders said the restored school funding would save about 5,000 teaching jobs by allowing classes in kindergarten through grade 3 to remain at current sizes – larger classes would mean fewer teachers. The extra money also would prevent some personnel cuts at community colleges and the University of North Carolina system.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5322164/
It's the illegal aliens, stupid......
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 11:17 — WuptdoNo jobs, no money, and no tax revenue. Cuts are hard, but when you have a certain percentage of the population living large on our tax dollars and they don't belong here, well, that's the first place you cut. If they are no jobs and no free benefits then illegals will go home to their 3rd world paradises. The estimate in WCPSS schools for illegal alien kids varies from 12K to 15K -- that's a lot of TAX savings if they were not allowed back in the schools.
5% of the NC budget ($1 billion dollars (+/-) goes to illegal aliens in one form or another. But given the current economy, they are no longer needed -- cut them off, and they will leave, except for all the ones filling up our jails. Gov. Bev promised that she would get a handle on the illegal alien problem in this state. Anyone remember that during her campaign -- North Carolina for North Carolinians? Why are all the politicians at all levels of gov't silent on this issue.
And never forget, you had a State government spending money like a bunch of crack/meth addicts over the last six years. Sorry Gov. Bev, NCGL and WCC's -- no rehab for you, just cold turkey. And remember this, illegal aliens account for 25% of the budget problem and is a easy fix.
Wake board wants to delay graduation project
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:23 — AngelaWhttp://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1562235.html
Lost Generation
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:36 — user1234I am guessing anyone with kids in school will look back at the next three years as the “lost generation” as those kids will have more students in each class in fewer classes, fewer teacher aides, fewer eelctives, field trips, administrators, security, councilors, maybe no school play, regional competition, debate coach, or band director compared to their older siblings. It will be a sad time to be in school compared to the past.
uhm, WCPSS doesn't have
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:24 — AngelaWuhm, WCPSS doesn't have these in ALL schools now, so what's so lost about the next three years? just more "losers"??
We didn't have those things
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:53 — Falcwhere I grew for about two-three years in the early '80s (same reason), we never had field trips (not just in the lean years) and the end of year celebration only meant you got to eat your sack lunch outside on the last day of school, but I don't consider myself part of "lost" anything.
Falc, that was 30years ago
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 12:19 — user1234Falc, that was 30years ago ... shoes were a luxury :-)
Really, field trips, region competitions, plays, yearbooks, band, most sports are not essential but it seems like a loss when those before and after will have them. I was thinking maybe the fathers could coach football and baseball teams like in Pop Warner to keep things going.
It's deja vu all over again
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:31 — FalcThose that think these are unprecedented times have short memories. Times like these do require creative solutions. You may be onto something.
They way it was handled there/then was to raise the funds through the "booster" club. The coaches were always/still are teachers (i.e. baseball coach was the typing teacher, AP English teacher was the track coach, etc.)
Maybe silver lining is kids will end up a little less spoiled?
A/C Forces Rand Road Elementary To Dismiss Early
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:24 — AngelaWhttp://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/36305/a-c-forces-rand-road-elementary-to-dismiss-early
hope there is $$ to fix this...
Stan Norwalk loses!
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 08:24 — g88ky07He is SO incredibly out of touch and simply too confused to sit in the seat he warms. Sorry Stan, and Harold, but what you want and what reality can allow are on 2 different planets!
I'm glad a 2nd vote was taken and Stan was left holding his bag!
And no Tony, the school board is still the most dysfunctional board in Wake County and will hold that title for years to come!
Stan tried to restore schol
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:51 — chaboardStan tried to restore schol funding, keep desparately needed safety net fuds even in a year when demand will go way UP, and tried to keep a buffer of $20 million to deal later with state cuts that WILL come AFTER Wake by law has to budget. To do so he wanted to postpone some non-essential construction for a year.
His opponents, on the other hand have offered NO plan to deal with the state cuts that are coming and are perfectly fine with slashing the safety net at the time it's needed most.
Doesn't look to me like Stan Norwalk is the one out of touch. He appears to be the grownup in the room tryig to be fiscally prudent while children like Gurley and Cobl are just name-calliing and throwing tantrums.
No Plan?
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:03 — g88ky07Start with cutting waste with FYR schools! 2+ million a year there probably! Or more! Busted AC units cost money, empty classrooms cost money, teachers leaving for another system that cares about them is costing us our teachers, Gee, I don't know, let's get a calculator and do the math!
Stan Norwalk is as out of touch as they come! Period!!
They voted 6-1 to throw out
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:58 — CaryCurmudgeonThey voted 6-1 to throw out his motion, so I guess you are saying that the other six commissioners (including Ward, Webb and Brown) are all out of touch.
Shrug
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:31 — chaboardI don't think you were paying close attention. They approved of the concept by approving the motion with a 4-3 vote but then fell apart over differences on WHERE to "find" the money 6-1.
So Joe - do YOU think that they should just close their eyes and preted that there will be no further state cuts coming - do you think proactively planning ahead for that certainty like Stan suggests is a *bad* idea? Do YOU think slashing the safety net at the very time it's most needed is a good idea? Do YOU think the school funding cuts that were made should not be restored?
What specifically in Stan's motiuon do you think is "out of touch"?
No Charlie, I said
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:42 — CaryCurmudgeonNo Charlie,
I said nothing about Stan's motion being out of touch. You pointed to two Republican commissioners and said they were out of touch, I simply pointed out that there was a bipartisan split among the six commissioners who killed the deal.
FWIW, I give Stan credit for at least having a shred of honesty about his opinion that taxes need to be increased. Particularly in our state legislature, elected officials are playing a stupid game of chicken. They are identifying budget cuts which they know are repulsive and hoping for a public outcry "demanding" that they increase taxes. I have no idea whether enough other cuts could be found to solve the $4B and keep education intact, probably not. So why are the commissioners and the state legislature jerking us around? If anyone ever had a problem distinguishing between leaders and politicians, they just need to look to these government bodies to get a clear understanding.
Ok Then
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:59 — chaboardI misunderstood you. My apologies.
Spin doctor
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 12:46 — supportwcpssIt's amazing how you'll spin things to your side and leave out the facts.
I watched the meeting and it wasn't that the other commisioners didn't like the idea. They all couldn't agree on where to make the other cuts so they punted.
"A complete waste of a day"
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 06:29 — Dadof3Too funny; that's exactly how I feel anytime after I've carefully read and considered Norwalk's posts and polemics.
You sound like Gurley
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 08:57 — supportwcpssSO, someone trying to find additional school funding by cutting a bunch of bloated capital projects is a a waste of time?
Tony Gurley's frequent rants (due to his little man's disease) are more of a distraction and waste of time then anyone on that board. His frequent temper tantrums arean embarassment to our community.
Little man's disease
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:40 — FalcHow very diverse of you to ascribe somone's behaviour to their physical stature.
Actually...
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 12:48 — supportwcpssI didn't mean to apply anything about Gurley's physical stature but simply the rest of the definiton of this terrible disease "marked by aggressive antisocial behavior and constant overcompensation
resulting in pompous mannerisms such as spitting, twitching, swearing,
speaking loudly and tough talk."
So...
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:27 — designman..."resulting in pompous mannerisms such as spitting, twitching, swearing,
speaking loudly and tough talk."
So, you mean, he's a lot like you. Got it.
Although, I've never seen Gurley act like that, so perhaps you just caught your reflection while you were mesmerized by a shiny surface.
Thanks!
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 10:34 — Dadof3A badge of honor I'll wear proudly.
Edit: "Little man's disease?" That's a touching sentiment. I have "big man's disease" myself, but again, self-awareness is the first step on the journey to healing.
Either...
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:07 — supportwcpssYou just proved you have never attended a CC meeting or approve of Gurley's behavior and antics. Independent of his 'side' his behavior at those meetings is atrocious.
n/a
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 12:09 — Dadof3None of the above; here's why
WCPSS likes to compare
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 06:27 — AngelaWWCPSS likes to compare themselves to the big boys, so maybe they should try this;
http://asumag.com/dailynews/detroit-audit-every-school-misuse-funds-poor-recordkeeping-20090603/
Jun 4, 2009 12:42 PM
From The Detroit News: The Detroit school system is instituting mandatory training for bookkeepers and a regular process of auditing schools after audits showed sloppy bookkeeping, employees using school funds for personal loans and missing cash receipts. The findings that could lead to criminal indictments in some cases, Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb says. All but five of 194 schools audited skirted district requirements by not providing support for expenditures, not preparing bank reconciliations, not getting appropriate signatures on checks and, in some cases, deliberately misappropriating funds.
RELATED: Detroit Public Schools officials has begun a massive downsizing of its top leaders in an effort to shore up a $306 million deficit and bring the district in line with others of similar size. Robert Bobb, the district's emergency financial manager, says the cuts include nearly 80 percent -- 181 positions of 231 -- of the district's curriculum department; 11 of the 21-member executive cabinet, including the police chief, chief of facilities and head of contracting and procurement; and more than half the district's assistant superintendents. In addition, transportation services and possibly school-based security will be outsourced.
Earlier...from The Detroit News: Detroit Public Schools' audits conducted on every school show sloppy bookkeeping, employees using school funds for loans and missing cash receipts. Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb says dozens of the 194 schools audited skirted district requirements by not providing support for expenditures, not preparing bank reconciliations and not getting appropriate signatures on checks. The audits of every school for 2008-09 were conducted by 35 auditors from four consultant firms over the last three weeks.
Large districts
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:41 — Bob_SconceWhen you hear somebody brag about how WCPSS is one of the best "large districts" in the nation, remind them who the competition is. Doing better than Detroit is not an achievement.
More on Detroit Schools
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:32 — FalcGee you mean Detroit Public Schools problems aren't all diversity related? You mean it also has to do with unethical leadership, crooked politicians, lack of BOE oversight and too much spending on administration instead of education? (Not to mention the dying economy there, making large sections a ghost town.) Check out the Central Office (second link) for a school system that does not have adequate anything else...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur6ScTW5EkM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evh9BOxrVUw