Posted by Webmaster on November 22, 2008 under Labor, News
Local government unions are being asked to voluntarily reduce pay levels – or face layoffs.
Clark County officials, led by Commission Chairman Rory Reid, met with leaders of the Service Employees International Union and the police and fire unions Thursday to deliver the grim news. Expenses are outpacing revenues, Reid said. Thus, current labor costs are simply unsustainable, he said.
The three unions represent 12,000 workers, and their leaders bristled.
“A meeting like we had has never been seen,” Reid said later. Prior to this week, reopening contracts has “never even been suggested as an option.”
Posted by Webmaster on November 22, 2008 under Energy
Nevada’s legislature has mandated that Nevadans purchase more expensive “renewable” energy. Our utility companies are complying, although full compliance is years away. Although mandated under color of the law, the extra amounts Nevadans pay for the mandate is not technically a “tax.”
No one has been able to calculate exactly how much more the typical Nevada family pays in their power bill for this mandate, but everyone agrees costs have been increased, and will continue to be increased even more as the legislature’s goal is pursued.
Posted by Webmaster on November 20, 2008 under Housing
This internet entrepreneur has created a website to allow welfare recipients to easily browse subsidized housing from the convenience of their living room computers.
Posted by Webmaster on November 16, 2008 under K-12
William G. Howell, associate professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and Martin R. West, assistant professor of education at Brown University, found that most people are off by half when asked to guess how much they and their fellow taxpayers spend on government schools.
In sum, Americans think that far less is being spent on the nation’s public schools than is actually the case. The vast majority of the public thinks we spend amounts that can only be described as minuscule, and almost 96 percent of the public underestimate either per-pupil spending in their districts or teacher salaries in their states.
Links: Hoover Institution article describing Drs. Howell & West’s study
Posted by Webmaster on November 13, 2008 under Empowerment Schools
One bright spot on the Clark County School District horizon is the concept of empowerment schools. Pilot programs have proven very successful.
Posted by Webmaster on November 13, 2008 under Administration
The Clark County School District pays $300 per hour for advice. Details here.
