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May. 22, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SPECIAL SESSION: Raises protected, officials say

Rulffes: Move by legislators might cost district

By JAMES HAUG
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Clark County School District could be on the hook for $45 million to $50 million if legislators decide to roll back state-funded salary increases of 4 percent, scheduled to be in teachers' checks after July 1.

Public school teachers are protected through a collective bargaining agreement, Superintendent Walt Rulffes said Wednesday during the adoption of the $2.72 billion operating budget for the 2008-09 school year.

Rulffes thinks that if the state funding is rescinded, the district still would be obligated to pay for the increases.

District general counsel Bill Hoffman agrees.

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    • "It certainly raises an interesting legal question," Hoffman said.

    Legislators approved funding for cost-of-living salary increases for teachers, state workers and university employees in 2007. Shortfalls in projected state revenues have Gov. Jim Gibbons reconsidering the 4 percent increase.

    On Monday, one state government source indicated that Gibbons might call a special session of the Legislature to reduce the raise to 2 percent, which would save the state $65 million.

    State officials are waiting for a report on the March sales tax receipts before deciding whether a special session is needed.

    The Clark County Education Association, which bargains for district teachers, is ratifying a contract that includes the 4 percent raises, union Executive Director John Jasonek said. The final vote will not be tallied until Saturday.

    Once teachers ratify the deal, School Board members will be asked to approve it.

    If the Legislature rescinds state funding for the salary increases, Rulffes said, the district would have to cut student programs to absorb the cost of the raises locally. District officials declined to specify which programs would be considered for cuts.

    And more calls to reduce planned budgets might be coming. Gibbons has asked Nevada school districts to pare back budgets for 2009-10 and 2010-11 by 14 percent each year from projected budget levels. The Clark County district's share of that amounts to $106 million less a year.

    "It's pretty traumatic," Rulffes said. "It would equate to a (loss of) over 2,000 positions."

    Because salaries make up about 80 percent of the operating budget, Rulffes said the district would be forced to cut its work force, which includes teachers, school bus drivers, maintenance workers and other support staff.

    "You have to make the cuts where the dollars are spent," Rulffes said.

    Clark County's school district is the fifth-largest one in the nation, with more than 308,000 students. Its growth has slowed this year to 1.5 percent, which amounts to 6,000 new students. The 2008-09 district operating budget of $2.72 billion represents a 7 percent increase over the current budget.

    Officials said they are being squeezed between the cuts and population growth.

    "We're in the terrible dilemma of recruiting teachers for next year because of growth, but at the same time, we're facing budget cuts," Rulffes said.

    The upcoming school year's budget already includes a 4.5 percent cut requested by the state, Rulffes said. The school district is setting aside $5 million in anticipation of additional revenue shortfalls.

    Jim McIntosh, the district's deputy chief financial officer, identified "two bright spots" in the 2008-09 budget.

    The Nevada Department of Education has increased per-pupil funding by $8, netting the school district an additional $2.6 million. The adjustment was made because Clark County qualified for additional money under the state's school funding formula because of poor economic conditions.

    Also, the district has been able reallocate $5 million within the budget to restore teacher purchasing cards, which allow teachers to buy $200 in classroom supplies.

    "All we can do is live on hope around here," said Bill Sampson, the director of the budget.

    Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686.



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    Whateverusaydear wrote on May 22, 2008 09:01 PM: 5% raises each year?

    I'm afraid that's only partially correct. Those raises stop after you've "topped out" while working for the state. After you've topped out, you can look forward to your longevity pay (starting at about $75 per 1/2 year before taxes) and hope you can get COLA increases over the years (which isn't guaranteed).

    Don't know about how the county determines longevity pay, but the state's is a whole lot less.

    I'm sure that the personnel office would be glad to explain the raises to anyone interested, and when they do (not) get them.

    If you believe state workers get 5% raises forever, can you indicate what step the state workers are at 10 years, what step they are at in 15 years, and what step they are at in 20 years?


    Jim Gibbons must go wrote on May 22, 2008 05:28 PM: Theo, thanks for the correction regarding state workers. However, I'm a teacher, which are non state employees, and I haven't seen a step raise in years.


    lime lite wrote on May 22, 2008 05:26 PM: Fluffy: CCSD budget increase 20% last year.

    Helen: Again making things up. cookoo.

    The school board will act before the legislature. Based on available data they can vote to NOT approve CBA. In light of new information, they could not be accused of bad faith bargaining, unless, wait, yes they can! as the state gave them the money for a 4% increase, so they have to cut the budget until they are told there is a change in salary busdget.

    Senator Beers says there is no teacher shortage.


    theo wrote on May 22, 2008 02:14 PM: As much as I hate Helen, she's actually right about the 5% raise. State workers get a yearly 5% step raise if their performance is adequate.


    jc wrote on May 22, 2008 12:05 PM: cut the bussing - if the public doesn't want to pay, they can drive their own kids to schoo.

    Cut all high school athletics as well.


    Don wrote on May 22, 2008 11:23 AM: This is the least of worries for this district. The failure to pass a raise for the teachers is par for the course. Teachers averaging a 1% raise per year for the last 10 years would make most people look for a different career. But, teachers are dedicated and that is their weakness. That is why legislatures can take advantage of them.
    The pressing issue which no one brings up is the teacher shortage for next year. What a convenient way to meet the budget. Let all those teachers retire so they can, after years of service to this state, get medical insurance.
    Even with the proposed medical insurance that the district is trying to appeal to teachers is at best a disaster waiting to happen.
    This district is heading for an implosion and they had seen it coming and refused to address it. Teacher shortage will place large numbers of students in every class. The district will be short 2000-4000 teachers next year due to those being forced to retire for medical insurance and those that it is their time to retire. Is this the way to meet their budget?
    Where will the district get more teachers? I believe that those teachers that have been laid off in California will flock to CCSD and be paid a pittance for what they earned in California. Give me a break!! Why would anyone in their sane mind come and work in this district?
    I mat be cynical but I am one of those teachers being forced to retire before I am ready to go. How many will make that same decision?


    Jim Gibbons must go wrote on May 22, 2008 10:38 AM: Helen Weils, you always have an opinion, but you always get your facts wrong. As stated in a previous post, what 5%? I guess things like that happen when you have your head shoved up you colon.


    fluffy wrote on May 22, 2008 09:22 AM: Yes 2.7B. The budget increase from the last one that started out at what...13%, now whittled down to 7%? So I guess the size of Clark County has grown 7% or more? The local economy has grown 7% or more? The size of the student body has grown 7% or more???

    Oh yeah, that's right, none of those growths occurred. I'd like to see the justifications of a 7% increase in operating costs (I'm sure they'll pull it up as fuel costs, but that wasn't the case when the budget was proposed!)


    Frank wrote on May 22, 2008 09:13 AM: If the legislature reduces the COLA, the obvious result will be that the school board votes down the contract. Teachers will have to eat what amounts to an inflationary pay cut. So will all other state employees.

    I fail to see how cutting teacher salaries addresses an economic problem connected with casino revenues. Revenue issues need to be solved by generating more revenue.

    Fortunately, the legislators are likely to set an example by paying for the special session out of their own pockets -- instead of making us foot the bill for $80,000 + $40,000 per additional day. Oh wait...I'm wrong about that.


    Shannon wrote on May 22, 2008 08:30 AM: Helen:
    What 5% raises are you talking about?


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