But the raises they needed were given. Others had not done that.

 

Not going to argue that but the fact is a mandated pay raise was not fully funded and in no sense of the word should Fletcher be given the credit in total. There were teachers who lost their jobs because of this mandate. The question I pose is how is the increase pay funded in years going forward? Do you know? Guess what, it falls back to the local districts and there will be cuts again. The raise was only funded for one year.

At 44 years of age, I have voted for exactly zero Democrats in any election in my entire life. This will be a first for me. Not that Beshear exactly fires me up, but I've had a plate full of Ernie.

I would like to see another candidate I could truly believe in. I think Fletcher let me down, but don't see Beshear as being much better. I feel like Richard Pryor in 'Brewster's Millions" and would like to start a campaign for NONE OF THE ABOVE! But then again, I am generally distrusting of politicians from either party.

Not going to argue that but the fact is a mandated pay raise was not fully funded and in no sense of the word should Fletcher be given the credit in total. There were teachers who lost their jobs because of this mandate. The question I pose is how is the increase pay funded in years going forward? Do you know? Guess what, it falls back to the local districts and there will be cuts again. The raise was only funded for one year.

 

You do realize that the local property taxes go to the local district. It would be interesting to note what % of a local district budget came from state? Federal? and local?

Has anyone ever seen the Southpark episode where the school has to vote on a new mascot? I feel this election goes hand in hand with the choices in that episode...

You do realize that the local property taxes go to the local district. It would be interesting to note what % of a local district budget came from state? Federal? and local?

 

What part of the mandated pay raise comes from local sources? Do not understand your point. Local district budget percentages from local, state and federal change significantly from district to district. One constant though is NorKY gets little from the state, quite a bit from local and a fraction from federal. Just south of NorKY the districts get more than their fair share from state and federal and not enough from local. Also you do realize local property taxes are capped and growth is deducted from their state share? What is your point?

I must be the antithesis of cooperstown (Post 17 above). 53 years old and I've voted for two members of the GOP; and not in presidential elections (one was Charlie Borders and the other was a protest vote against Chris Perkins).

 

Number three will not be this year.

What part of the mandated pay raise comes from local sources? Do not understand your point. Local district budget percentages from local, state and federal change significantly from district to district. One constant though is NorKY gets little from the state, quite a bit from local and a fraction from federal. Just south of NorKY the districts get more than their fair share from state and federal and not enough from local. Also you do realize local property taxes are capped and growth is deducted from their state share? What is your point?

 

Part of the assumption by the state is that the school distirict is supported financially at a local level as well as a state level. Some districts, the teachers don't carry much weight in decisions made. So, the KEA lobbied for the raises knowing ALL teachers and along with that ALL classified was going to get raises. The expectation was that the local levels would help support these raises through their local taxes.

 

Not saying it is right or wrong. Just pointing out that there is an expectation that local taxes are used.

Part of the assumption by the state is that the school distirict is supported financially at a local level as well as a state level. Some districts, the teachers don't carry much weight in decisions made. So, the KEA lobbied for the raises knowing ALL teachers and along with that ALL classified was going to get raises. The expectation was that the local levels would help support these raises through their local taxes.

 

Not saying it is right or wrong. Just pointing out that there is an expectation that local taxes are used.

 

 

That is not correct.

 

It was clearly stated by the Fletcher Administration and Dept. of Education the mandated pay increases would be fully funded. Later it was determined that such distribution would be delivered via the SEEK payment. Due to the local cap growth and the offset growth penalty from the state such funding in full was cut from many districts forcing the use of local funds and forcing the position cuts that occured in many districts. If what you say is true then KEA and the education leadership advocates proves once again how really stupid and shortsighted it can be. Up to even the most recent press releases from the Fletcher Administration was the pay raises were fully funded by his administration.

Both candidates are poor. Neither deserves a vote. I will stay away from the polls. Beshear will win because he is the Democrat. Fletcher has guaranteed that none of us will live to see another Republican governor. He didn't do anything the Democrats haven't done for decades but you must remember how the system works in Kentucky.

 

My thoughts exactly

 

Does anyone else remember the movie Brewster's Millions? In it Richard Pryor ran for mayor of New York and campaigned on a platforn that neither he nor the other two candidates were qualified. He urged everyone to vote for "none of the above".

 

Since I first registered to vote in 1978 I have not missed voting in any election, I take the right to vote very seriously. That said I can't decide which of these two has earned my vote and I may well write in "none of the above".

 

I believe that Beshear will win and hope that we maintain the Republican control of the Senate other wise I fear our tax burden will go through the roof.

My thoughts exactly

 

Does anyone else remember the movie Brewster's Millions? .

 

I feel like Richard Pryor in 'Brewster's Millions" and would like to start a campaign for NONE OF THE ABOVE! But then again, I am generally distrusting of politicians from either party.

 

What are the chances of 2 Brewster Million references in one thread?

That's pretty much where I'm at. I vote for the lesser of two evils, Beshear.

 

That's how the last presidential election went. It would be nice to vote for someone I actually like instead of someone who's not as bad of a person as the other guy....

There have been several elections when I wasn't thrilled with either candidate. But it would take an event of major significance to keep me away from the voting booth. By not voting, I give up my right (in my mind, at least), to criticize - even if only (semi) anonymously on a discussion board like this.

Is Ernie in trouble?

Edit Poll View Poll Results: Kentucky gubernatorial choice?
Steve Beshear (D)		22	62.86%
Ernie Fletcher (R)		9	25.71%
Other - Not voting		4	11.43%
Voters: 35. You have already voted on this poll

He can't even win on BGP, and BGP leans heavily to the right.

I can't believe he is losing on BGP. I thought most of BGP was to the right of reason.