First, the level of decline in state aid should not come as a shock to anyone, particularly Dr. Beyerlein. Indeed, any taxpayer within our boundries knows the extent of property value loss by simply taking the time to look at their property tax bill. In Grosse Pointe, where I live, our taxable value has fallen over 50 percent in the past 5 years alone, inflation not included. In other words, the primary funding mechanism of public eductation in Michigan, property taxes, have plummeted. Not only that, but we are the only state to lose population in the last US census, and the unemployment rate has Michigan in the bottom three states for job growth (non-growth). So, it is clear neither the District nor the State has the money necessary to meet its obligations. Herein, however, lies the beauty of the new teacher contract: we don't have to fire 55 people to balance our budget, which I would argue is much worse for our community than an adjustment in pay, based on ability to pay. Those 55 teachers and support employees keep their jobs, live to fight another day, versus going to zero income, a likely home foreclosure, etc.  

We can't pay what we don't have, and what we do have is a down economy with high unemployment, so we cannot go on paying for what we cannot afford. This contract should (and likely will) be the model of other public entities with unions trying to maintain an income level not supported by the community.

Glenn M. Watson

Grosse Pointe