Q&A with Helgeson and Garrett on school budget

Q: Explain why you voted for or against the Lynchburg City Schools budget for fiscal 2010. Include your thoughts on the unsuccessful proposal made this year to transfer money from the schools to the public safety division in order to preserve police salaries.

Scott Garrett
“I voted for the fiscal 2010 budget because education is a fundamental and critical core service that every municipality provides. We are blessed in Lynchburg to have very high-quality schools, and I will continue to do what I can to help us stay on this path. My wife and I are committed to ensure that every child receives the best education possible. I have worked to understand the opportunities to realize some efficiencies and economies of scale where duplication of non-instructional services (such as finance, accounting, human resource, buildings and grounds management, procurement, information technology, etc.) currently exist. I appreciate that City Council and our City Manager have affirmed the need to address these issues, and are committed to cooperate, collaborate, and consolidate where possible. This simply must be done, and done timely.
“I have stood steadfast and resolute for the past three months that cutting the salaries of our police officers and other valued City employees is the wrong message at the wrong time. However, I did not support Mr. Helgeson’s proposal because I believe we can save money by cutting other budget items which will not harm our children’s education, especially considering that the school system had already been forced to lay off more than 60 employees. My experience as a small businessman has taught me that you get what you pay for, and you must reaffirm the worth of those who work to help you accomplish your goals.”

Jeff Helgeson
“I voted against the proposed school budget because it spends $26 million more than just six years ago, back when we had 700 more students. The budget I voted against spends 25 percent more per student than the school systems in the counties surrounding Lynchburg do. Meanwhile, Lynchburg is beginning to pay public safety employees less than the surrounding counties do.
“A bloated budget for the school system is shortchanging public safety in Lynchburg, which should be government’s first priority. While first-year teachers in Lynchburg make nearly $35,000 a year, our first-year police officers only make about $29,000, which is the lowest in the region.
“Adding insult to injury — police officers and firefighters, who work year-round, received a 3 percent pay cut this year. Yet Lynchburg schoolteachers, who take summers off, will maintain their full salaries in the budget that I opposed.
“Let me be clear — I want teacher pay to be competitive with the best school systems in the Common-wealth. However, I don’t believe school salaries should be untouchable in tough times, thereby making it difficult to keep good police officers and firefighters on the job.
“During tough times, everyone has to make tough decisions. Unfortunately, the majority of my peers on City Council seem willing to spend more for our school system, while shortchanging the public safety workers who protect our lives and property from harm.”