National Education Association- New Mexico

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  Public School-Related Legislation(Blurbs)

Sample Messages to Legislators and the Governor on School Funding

 

Text Box: Dear I am convinced that several economists have evidence that investing in public schools creates more jobs and   more improvement in personal income than tax cuts or other spending!  Recent studies by Economist Richard Sims use an economic model that predicts 1000 net jobs for each 2% increase in public school spending.  I can’t think of a better investment of our state’s unexpected new revenues.  Please increase public school spending by 271 million new dollars, and create 8000 new jobs in New Mexico Sincerely.     Text Box: Dear It is clear that New Mexico has ample new revenues (more than $500 million in new money); ample need in our public schools (some estimate the need for $750 million new dollars to produce adequacy and equity with the highest performing states and school districts); and public willingness to spend the new revenues on public schools (according to a poll conducted in August by Communities for Quality Education).  We know that the best investment we can make in our future is to fund our children’s education.  Please increase education spending by at least 12% and make a profound difference for New Mexico’s future with our newfound wealth. Sincerely Text Box: Dear With more than 500 million new revenue dollars to appropriate next year, the legislature has a unique opportunity to greatly improve public schools.  A recent poll conducted by Communities for Quality Education indicates that the majority of New Mexicans consider improving education to be the top priority of policy makers.  Further the poll indicates a large plurality of voters favoring spending the extra oil and gas revenues on public schools not tax cuts or rebates.  Please increase public school funding by at least $271 million and make a real difference in the lives of children in our state.   Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Messages to Legislators and the Governor on School Funding

 

Text Box: Dear 2005’s Senate Bill 181 corrected the Legislature’s Historical Under-funding of Educational Retirement. The plan in place will keep the educational retirement fund fiscally sound and able to meet sound accounting principles. This plan needs time to work and be evaluated.  No changes are necessary during this legislative session.  Please stay the course and continue to fund the solution contained in Senate Bill 181. Sincerely     Text Box: Dear There is no actuarial necessity to change retirement eligibility rules to make new educational employees work longer to get full retirement benefits.  The plan contained in last year’s Senate Bill resolved the Educational Retirement fund fiscal issues.  We don’t need to make new employees second class citizens. The great disparity between ERA and PERA is grossly unfair to educational employees.  Don’t add to this unfairness with any changes that further the perception that educational employees’ retirement benefits are not as important to the state as those of other public employees! Sincerely Text Box: Dear Some well-intentioned legislators are calling for changes that negatively impact the retirement planning of many educators.  The Educational Retirement Board’s return-to-work program has not been shown to have any negative actuarial effect on the educational retirement fund.  Many educators have used this plan in retirement planning.  Many school districts have used this plan to recruit hard-to-find teaching positions.  The plan will automatically sunset in 2012.    No changes are needed.  Pleased leave educator return-to-work provisions intact with no changes. Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

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