BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Limba - ECPv6.16.5//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://limba.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Limba REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20080309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20081102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20090308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20091101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20100314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20101107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090206T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090206T000000 DTSTAMP:20090206T050000Z CREATED:20090206T050000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20090206T050000Z UID:4335-1233878400-1233878400@limba.net SUMMARY:No Meeting DESCRIPTION: URL:https://limba.net/calendar/no-meeting-14/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090213T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090213T000000 DTSTAMP:20090213T050000Z CREATED:20090213T050000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20090213T050000Z UID:4329-1234483200-1234483200@limba.net SUMMARY:Presidents Day weekend-No Meeting DESCRIPTION: URL:https://limba.net/calendar/presidents-day-weekend-no-meeting-4/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090220T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090220T000000 DTSTAMP:20090220T050000Z CREATED:20090220T050000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20090220T050000Z UID:4323-1235088000-1235088000@limba.net SUMMARY:Thomas DiNapoli NY State Comptoller- Confirmed DESCRIPTION:With the state budget resraints and the accumulated needs of the state\, how are going to move forward? This and other questions will come up at our meeting. \nWe need to know what sacrifices can and will be made. Please join us to hear from Mr. DiNapoli. Tom is a hard working and thoughtful elected official. Please join us. \nErnie Fazio \n  URL:https://limba.net/calendar/thomas-dinapoli-ny-state-comptoller-confirmed/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090227T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090227T000000 DTSTAMP:20090227T050000Z CREATED:20090227T050000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20090227T050000Z UID:4341-1235692800-1235692800@limba.net SUMMARY:Ginny Fields- 5th Dist & Mike Fitzpatrick 7th dist NY Assem DESCRIPTION:  \nThis morning we had a slightly different format. The speakers gave us their take on the state of the schools and what a perverse effect taxes have had on our region. 5th Assembly representative Ginny Fields and 7th Assembly representative Mike Fitzpatrick gave us opening statements on school taxes and the reason for out of control costs. Presently Long Islanders are the second highest taxed citizens in the nation. \n  \nThey pointed out to us that 70% of our property taxes are used for schools. That percentage has risen from about 40% back in the 70’s. The schools will tell you that the cost is high because the quality of education is high. At the same time Suffolk Community College and SUNY reports that 30% of new students need remedial reading. Obviously there is an inconsistency in these numbers. \n  \nThe speakers were asked about the driving forces underlying the increases. The reasons are many. One of the reasons is that all of the education employees are still in Defined Benefit Plan pensions. The economic realities have caused private companies to abandon DBP pensions years ago. To satisfy the needs of these plans in economic bad times means considerably higher costs to the taxpayer\, and as a result we can expect another whopping increase in school taxes next year\, according to Mr. Fitzpatrick. \n  \nAnother problem is fraud and waste. Let’s talk about waste first. The need to have as much administration in our schools as we do is not justified by any argument that the school administrators can give us. It was pointed out the Fire Island School district has 78 students and has a superintendent all its own. That superintendent gets paid $178\,000 per year plus pension\, plus health benefits\, sick days\, personal days and all of the other benefits usually awarded. The total cost of that person is probably $228\,000. If you divide that number by the number of pupils (78). That comes out to over $2900 per student before you pay for a principal’s salary\, teachers\, building repairs\, property insurance\, heat\, power\, and all other costs. \n  \nOne of the people in the audience had a copy of the Sayville teacher’s union contract. The contract reflected a 28% increase over the next four years. This is an unconscionable disregard for the taxpayers. \n  \nAnother reason for out of control cost is lack of countervailing power. Unions and management agreements work best when the parties are of similar power. The question is; who is there to tell the unions no? \n  \nThe school districts will tell you that the ludicrous number of districts (126) is needed to maintain control\, but recent revelations by Newsday that uncovered numerous phony pensions demonstrated that school districts have no incentive to run a clean operation. Fraud simply does not matter as long as they can stick the taxpayer with the bill. \n  \nIf you were in the audience this morning you know I covered only the most salient points. The real picture is worse. \n  \n## Ernie Fazio ## \n  URL:https://limba.net/calendar/ginny-fields-5th-dist-mike-fitzpatrick-7th-dist-ny-assem/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR