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Show fefil) 8&b(Sirs GiBp(SEiSatlOlil August 13, 2003 - The Springville Herald - Page Three ir titain) mmi states - - " jL Utah teachers receive the 18th highest overall compensation compen-sation in the nation after adjusting for work experience, experi-ence, cost of living and benefits, according to analysis analy-sis conducted by the Taxpayers Taxpay-ers Association. A survey of various studies also demonstrates demon-strates that salaries for Utah educators have increased faster than salaries for educators educa-tors in nearly all other states. Additionally, wages for Utah educators relative to wages for Utah workers are similar to wages for educators educa-tors in other states relative to workers in those states. These conclusions were reached based on data from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NE-A), (NE-A), Utah Office of the Legislative Legis-lative Fiscal Analyst (LFA), the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the U.S. Census Bureau. Total adjusted compensation compensa-tion for Utah educators ranks 18th highest in the nation and is nearly identical to the national average, primarily due to a generous benefits package that adds an additional addi-tional 36.6 benefit on top of teacher salaries. Nationally, National-ly, educators receive benefits that amount to an additional 25.7 of salaries, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Compensation was also adjusted for cost of living and teacher experience. Legislature seeks education Fewer dollars and more students are parts of a perplexing per-plexing education equation Utah legislators hope to solve with a nationwide request for proposals (RFP). State lawmakers law-makers are seeking input fr om , , .private, , , and , public, entities to, help solve Utah's education problem. , Far from simply wanting to "stack them deep and educate them cheap," Utah lawmakers are optimistic solid solutions are available that will add up to greater cost efficiencies and improved im-proved student performance. Sen. Tom Hatch, R-Pan-guitch said, "Our whole focus is to improve education in Utah." The first-term state senator added, "We know we don't have all the answers. But we're hopeful the best and brightest minds in the private and public sectors will respond to our RFP with sound solutions to Utah's education dilemma. " During this year's 45-day legislative session, Hatch sponsored Senate Bill 154 Public Education Amendments. Amend-ments. The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Mike Leavitt, includes language lan-guage directing the Education Interim Committee to consult with the State Board of Education Edu-cation and the Public Education Educa-tion Legislative Task Force before issuing "a three-stage request for proposals responding re-sponding to Utah's need to stretch educational dollars and improve student performance. perfor-mance. " In phase one, the state of Utah seeks preliminary proposals pro-posals by Sept. 30, 2003, that: "1) result in improved student performance and are financially feasible; or 2) create greater cost efficiencies." efficien-cies." Proposals shall also take into consideration Utah's Ut-ah's distinct demographics, economy and culture. Additionally Addi-tionally submitters must attach an implementation timeline, estimated costs and evidence of resulting savings and student performance improvements. In phase two, up to three preliminary proposals will be selected to receive funding to develop and submit complete proposals by Dec. 31, 2003. : SB 154 includes a $150,000 appropriation. One or more proposals may be selected in phase three for implementation implementa-tion through public funding or a possible public-private partnership. "Adding to Utah's educa- j tion difficulties are the state's i Rankings State Total Adiusted Average Teacher Salary Compared to Percent Wage Compensation Private Sector I College Educated Increase (92-02) Utah 18 26 35 " 4 Arizona 41 40 3 40 California 10 19 17 15 Colorado 43 50 40 42 Idaho 20 4 28 I j Montana 47 5 9 35 Nevada 9 JJ 47 I 45 New Mexico 42 1,8 20 7 Oregon 7 6 18 12 Washington 21 39 24 34 Wyoming 28 j 12 30 I 36 Sources: NEA. AFT. BLS. U.S. Census Bureau. ALEC; additional calculations by Utah Taxpayers Association Utah's cost of living index is 1.9 below the U.S. average and average teaching experience experi-ence for Utah educators is 12.8 lower than the U.S. average. Without adj ustments , Utah teacher salaries re 35th highest in the nation and 14 below the national average according to the AFT (2002). According to the NEA (2001) Utah's unadjusted teacher salaries are 38th highest in the nation and 16 below the national average. This is not surprising surpris-ing considering Utah's average, aver-age, annual pay for all non-farm non-farm workers-accountants, lawyers, construction workers, work-ers, etc. --is 17 below the national average, according to the BLS, confirming Utah's Ut-ah's reputation as a low-wage state for workers in general. Utah educators on average aver-age earn 28 more than the average Utah private sector worker. This ratio is 4.7 higher than the equivalent ratio for the nation as a relatively high tax burden and the fact that nearly one in every four Utahns are school age," said Hatch. "These factors have contributed contrib-uted to Utah ranking last nationally in per pupil expenditures expen-ditures for so many, years." Hatch said the current sluggish slug-gish economy and projected Utah student population growth are critical reasons IrJg) foray .dollars, detour by Congressman Ernest J. Istook, Jr. Why does Utah have so many bad roads, dangerous roads and overcrowded roads? A major reason is the taxes paid by drivers don't all go to our roads. Almost one-sixth of federal fuel taxes are diverted to pay . transit subsidies-mostly to benefit states with elaborate (and heavily-subsidized) mass-transit mass-transit systems. That diversion diver-sion now totals $5 billion per year, at a time when too many roads are in disrepair. While diversion and inflation have hurt our Highway High-way Trust Fund, the needs have grown immensely. More than 90 of America's passenger-miles and 71 of the freight tonnage go by road, because no alternative offers the huge flexibility provided by roads and highways. high-ways. Yet when fuel tax dollars aren't used to improve im-prove highways, congestion results and gridlocked cars generate avoidable pollution. Our roads are being shortchanged and so are our bridges. The country now has 167,00 deficient bridges-28 bridges-28 of the total. The national nation-al backlog of needed road and bridge work now tops $325 billion and some say it's $400 billion. Narrow roads need widening; broader pull-over shoulders are needed; need-ed; dangerous curves need realignment; safety dividers are lacking' bumps, potholes and rough pavement need, repairs. This backlog costs lives-contributing to the 42,800 lives lost annually. Yet there's another major diversion, even after transit takes its cut. Even though Utah has 546 structurally deficient or dangerous bridges bridg-es and 667 miles of highways rated as critical or inadequate, inade-quate, another federal law dictates that each state must spend another 10 of all of whole and places Utah at 26th highest, according to the AFT. Utah's current ranking is a significant improvement over its 1992 ranking of 46th highest. Utah educators earn 0.9 more than the average college-educated Utah worker, which is slightly lower than the 3.7 that average U.S. teachers earn compared to average college-educated American workers, according to ALEC. The variation between the states is very low so that a slight 5 increase in-crease in Utah's ratio would increase Utah's ranking to 26th. Utah ranks 11th in average aver-age teacher salaries compared to per-capita personal income. in-come. However, per-capita comparisons of Utah with other states are generally misleading due to Utah's unique demographics which are drive by families with high numbers of non-wage earning children. Compared to their coun for issuing the RFP." "Utah students and teachers teach-ers have great potential but limited resources," said Hatch. "We know there are some great ideas out there for maximizing the dollars invested in education. " ' The RFP documents are available online at www.le.s-' tate.ut.usrfp. Questions surface transportation program pro-gram funds on "transportation "transporta-tion enhancements." What are those? In part, these are bicycle and pedestrian pedes-trian trailsbut our fuel tax dollars are also spent restoring restor-ing old buildings, creating transportation museums and buying rail right-of-way. These enhancements are popular with many people, but they don't move any of the traffic that paid the fuel taxes. These mandated diversions diver-sions take another $648 million per year that could help fix roads and bridges. Sadly, those who clamor for enhancements don't offer to pay for them. Instead, they insist that fuel taxes must be diverted from road and bridge repairs, even at the expense of safety. This can be changed. In a few weeks, Congress will be asked to agree that enhancements enhance-ments should be permitted rather than mandated. This change would permit states to use the $648 million for roads and bridges if they wish. This money comes from Attontion At ! Stay at home Bern Income Easy to Sell Free training N J 1 Amww a mmmt mi our Information Btnlntue. Wo ere limiting tho number off Uteh County affllistosl Call Now! 001-492-7706 go to www.idsphonies.com for details terparts in other states, Uta educators have experienced health increases in salaries over the past ten years. According to the NEA and the AFT, Utah's percent increase in average teacher salaries from 1992 to 2002 was fourth highest in the nation. During this period, nominal average teacher wages increased 43.8 in Utah while increasing 29.7 nationwide. The table summarizes the national rankings of Utah and surrounding states with regards re-gards to total adjusted compensation, com-pensation, relative salaries and percent of salary growth. Utah ranked especially high in percentage wage increase, and if this trend continues, Utah educators will continue to move up the national rankings. By most measures, compensation com-pensation for Utah educators is close to the national average, aver-age, especially when benefits are included. solutions about the RFP may be directed direct-ed to Connie Steffen, policy analyst or Dee Larsen, associate asso-ciate general counsel, in the Office of Legislative Research Re-search and General Counsel. They may be contacted by e-mail e-mail at csteffenutah.gov or dlarsenutah.gov, by telephone tele-phone at (801) 538-1032 or by fax at (801) 538-1712. the fuel taxes paid by each state's road users, and we should trust states to assess their own needs and decide for themselves how to spend the money. It would greatly help to relieve congestion and correct unsafe roads and bridges. Diversions began at a time when fuel tax revenue was constantly rising, so it was easier to afford "enhancements." "en-hancements." Today things are different; highway funding fund-ing is billions short from even covering the basic needs. The backlog is so great that many support raising fuel taxes to address it. Naturally, road users object because they're already al-ready paying extra money that is siphoned away from roads. Before raising taxes, shouldn't we maximize how we use what we already collect? It's time to re-visit how our transportation dollars are spent. Each mode of transportation trans-portation should help pay for itself, rather than expecting road users to pay for everyone every-one else. Let's not overtax America's drivers. - Homo Moms! PH NICS Seeks Sales Affiliates to Market Home Education Products No Quotas No Inventory No Uultf-Level Sales Expert support 'A h u Weston and Candri Barton, son and daughter of Karl and Marcia Barton of Springville will both be getting their bachelor of science degrees this month. Weston earned his associate of science degree from Utah Valley State College April 30, 1998. He served an LDS mission in Germany and then returned to school. He will be getting his bachelor of science in business management from UVSC. He is currently employed at Fort Knox. Candri earned her associate of science degree in community commu-nity health with honors from UVSC December 14, 2001, graduated from high school May 2001 (yes, it was May 2001) and will receive her bachelor of science in community commu-nity health from Brigham Young University. She will be employed at the Utah County Rape Crisis Center. nd off Summer Blast rm teems The Springville " City Youth Council is sponsoring an End of Summer BLAST! for all teenagers, ages 14 to 18, on Friday, Aug. 15, at the Spring Acres Arts Park, behind the high school. There will be a benefit concert and dance featuring 23 Skidoo Improv, lokalgr-own lokalgr-own and Audio Visions-mobile Visions-mobile DJ. Teens are invited to come and have a great evening for West Point, home of the United States Military Academy, Acade-my, was established on March 16, 1802. Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico were first explored in 1901 by Jim White, a cowboy who saw large numbers num-bers of bats come out of an opening in the ground. "The Place to Watch a Movie!" Stadium Seating THX Sound Exit 252 in Payson, 633 South 950 West August 15-20 1:05 4:10 1:15 4:15 3:30 12:20 03ej(lERia?((3) 12:25 3:25 12:55 3:55 1:10 4:00 No 9:00 Showings on Sunday. No discount passes. Matinee Price $3.50 Showtime 465-8500 www.stadiumcinemas.com Order and print your tickets online! www.stadiumcinemas.com tin . 1 i i : ..2 Sua - a great cause. Cost is $5 with proceeds to benefit the Out Reach to Students program. They are asked to bring a canned food item for the Utah Food Bank. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. with show at 8 sharp. Seating is limited, bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Best behavior and modest dress will be appreciated. Call Keri Gordon, 489-3455, for more information. Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into, the mind. Coleridge ; Next to knowing when to seize an opportunity, the most important thing in life is to know when to forgo an advantage. Disraeli 7:10 (9:40) (iHE37(R3) 7:05 (9:30) 6:30 (9:30) 6:25 (9:25) 6:55 (9:35) 7:00 (9:20) I |