May 3, 2005
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
East Bridgewater
West Bridgewater
Massachusetts
Legislation & Politics
USA
Legislation & Politics
World
Education
Bridgewater-Raynham Schools
Massachusetts
USA
Archives (past stories)
Opinion/Analysis
Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
The Boston Globe, amongst many sources, has written quite a bit over the past week about this benefit to teachers. The story from this past Sunday talked about the many communities that have had the plans disallowed by the Pension Board.
For those who question why this is important, many sources (quoted in Boston Globe and elsewhere) peg the cost to MA taxpayers as $682 million to subsidize the Teacher Pension Plan. To put this into perspective, the State provides a grand total of $3.26 billion in Chapter 70 aid to cities and towns for education. The subsidy therefore represents an amount that is 20.92% of total Chapter 70 aid. Bridgewater-Raynham is scheduled to receive $19,027,611 in Chapter 70 aid this upcoming school year.
Therefore, if instead of yours and my tax dollars subsidizing this pension plan, the funds were sent to cities and towns in the form of an across the board increase in Chapter 70 aid, then Bridgewater-Raynham would receive $3,980,576 additional "FOR THE CHILDREN". Where do you think is a better place for these tax dollars?
