Paul,

Teachers have to pay 11.5 % of their income into the their retirement accounts every paycheck. They have no choice in the matter. How much do you pay into your retirement account each paycheck?

Mike: I probably care for the needy and poor more than your reference to them as a "BUNCH" could ever imagine.
How do you conclude any GOP involvement on my very simple and factual point.
I love lotto too,. I love casinos, I love tobacco, I love Alcohol, I love homes, I love my car, I love sales taxes, but you must love our Public school Teachers getting 75% (that's 75 cents) for every dollar advertised as Play Lotto--"IT's FOR OUR CHILDREN". (In full support of Tobacco,Wines,Liquor,Casinos,Marijuana taxes) paying for our children's education.

We should call our public schools "SIN-CITY". What a great message this country teaches our children.
Next Raises coming? All we need do to pay these exhorbitant education wages is to add --Pornography, Prostitution Tax revenues "FOR THE CHILDREN".
Yes Sir: --And all you can write is "GOP"???!!
It is not a "bunch of people" paying a "voluntary TAX".
"Bunches" come in Bananas and voluntary Taxes are not advertised as "taking a chance". Of course, you would'nt advertise lotto as "A $1 voluntary tax" per ticket, would you.?
They are now "Bunches". (A favorite term also used by our own President B.O.)
Are you afraid to label them a "class of People"? That might expose how you really think of these "voluntary Tax payers".
Every time one of you try to diminish me, you expose how Democrats speak No taxes to the voters, but conveniently justify "Voluntary-Tax". (on those at poverty levels).

PaulRevere do you ever get tired of bitching and moaning about public schools. I sure do since you have no life and do it everyday. Is voicing your useless opinion on a local message board doing anything productive? If you don't like it, get out, are your message boards going to change anything? Don't pay your taxes if your so angry about it and go to jail but get a life man. How many hours have you logged on the patch website?

Hey! Mr Reverse Man
It doesn't take very long to irritate you , does it?
Is it the messenger or the message that bothers you.?
Do I get tired? NO
Me Voicing useless opinions?-- I would label my comments as "Facts".
It is time that someone start "educating" the Residents about how much our "Free public schools are costing". When enough residents get the facts, you will know it.
You don't like that--So I must be on message right here.
You see, Mr Reverse man, you are a rude person telling commenters to "get-out".

"It's For the Children" Their Parents-- that I aim to make "angry", Not you.
So please don't try to bully me off a "public forum".

Mike: Pensions are based on "contracts". They are simple to calculate. It has nothing to do with Jeff city. "shortchanging?".
Now you mention "Illinois"/ and every other state" to "make it up".
WHAT?
And you just exposed another Democratic "greed word" (GUARANTEES).
That is exactly what Missouri Unionized Teachers want---Guaranteed Pension Amounts, not just a Pension. That is Greed! Greed taken from the parents who do not have the time to fight and understand all the "Hidden" taxes, that you now call
"voluntary tax".
If a Lotto ticket is a "voluntary tax" than is a bottle of beer a "voluntary tax"?
You are confused about the states "education funding" rules.
Go to the Lotto site. Missouri state laws mandate that 25% of all state revenues go directly to "education". And it did.
The school's classrooms and Children's programs are squeezed, not the Pay structure. My Pattonville Teacher "niece" just started teaching at a starting $48,000 +29.5% pension +medical ,vision,dental bringing her ANNUAL COST TO ALL TAXPAYERS OF over $70,000 per year.
That is for a 1 year starting wage. (She pays Zero Social Security tax)
Her 5 year tenure wages put her over $80,000 annual cost to society. (for 9 months work) with 3 week Holiday vacations. What a rip-off.
No! It is the School facilities that only get 25 cents while the Teachers get 75 cents of the Tax revenues. Nobody's Pay should be based on "State's Revenues".
That is the major flaw in our system.

Well at least your "backword name" defines your logic very well.
And what is your definition of success?
Like your name, You have it backwords.
It takes "successful" PRIVATE workers earning $38,000 average pay in Missouri to support 100% of Teacher's pays and union dues.
Your comment proves without doubt the "Greed" for "SELF-Enrichment" is alive and well inside our Public school Unions.
I would suggest the Teacher's union Start and build their own Schools.
Pay yourselves whatever you "THINK" you are worth.
I would love to see you prove that charging $10,000 annual student cost for your Tuition is a successful venture.
I wonder how many Families would pay $10,000 per child for "union Styled Teacher's" owned public school. Do it, you could all be more successful!
Want to take a guess how many "successful" $70,000 entry level teacher's your new "Union owned public school" would have?
Now that would be "awesome to see".

Hey! Mr Paul Revere
It doesn't take very long to irritate you , does it?
All I did was post two messages and right on cue you go crazy via message board
Do I get tired of you? YES
Where do you get your "facts"?
What makes you qualified to start educating people about how much public schools costing. Are you qualified because you blow up message boards?
You don't like my posts-So I must be on message right here.
You see, Mr PaulRevere, you are a rude person telling everyone that only your ideas about public education are right. If your kids went to public schools would you have the same ideas?
So please don't try to bully me off a "public forum".

No my son, the problem is you spend too much time on the internets bloviating. Now get out of the basement and bring our trash barrels up from the curb!

PaulStanley:
1) I personally do her tax returns. Her w-2 is $47,500.
She just started about 2 years ago.
2)Teacher's put 14.5% of their pay into their pension. WE , the taxpayers put another 14.5% into their pension. they don't even see that. (That, is 29% pension cost to Taxpayers.) Of course , since 100% of Teacher salaries come from Real estate TAXES, I would conclude WE, the taxpayers are putting 29.5% into pensions.
3) Teachers have special federal exemption from paying any SS tax.
Why? Aren't they workers like the rest of America? We pay double the SS rate for teachers. That is a fact. Why should they get Private Soc Sec while the Liberal dem argue against any private soc sec for ALL Americans.
4) My $80,000 includes W-2+medicalIns+14.5%pension-add'l+visionDentalLife.
Pattonville-not Rockwood.

"Teacher's may be off for the summer", you say. Well , you find me any other Professional in America that gets 2 to 3 months OFF! with another 3 weeks for Christmas holidays.
Your 4th point "hard work" is what every other Professional hard working american does for a YEARS Pay. We have to put up with "Customers" Clients.
So, what's your point.? Fact is Teachers are NOT EXPECTED TO SHOW UP FOR WORK for 2-3 months. Whether they do, makes no diff.
My next comment deals with your attempts to "VALUE" a teacher.

PaulStanley-cont'd
The value of Teachers is not based on anything you state. (e.g. hard work,extra hours,prof development).
The value of teachers has always been based on "How much the property values" are worth in their district.
That is why teachers in Ladue make more than Rockwood teachers.
That is why teachers unions Pray-hope for home value increases. Teachers survive on "TAXATION" period. Teachers Pay is solely based on HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT RECEIVES IN TAXES.

Sure , they pay on experience based within the group, but the total Dollars start with taxation. Public school Teachers compare themselves to other Public S. teachers pay. Is that absurd?. Yes! Why not set their pay to ALL teachers in the district.?
It has nothing to do with Hard work. Although I agree with you that they work hard.
Missouri's average worker makes $38,000. So my point is simple.
The People's earning abilities should set the pay levels of ALL teachers, not some arbitrary self-assessed values put into union styled contracts.
Society asked for "Free" Public education, but society did not ask for Union wage structures, when there are thousands of fully capable and willing teachers ready to serve the Public, at much lower wages.
Residents deserve public education "At the lowest wage cost" NOT "the highest".
cost". If you don't agree with that, then I would welcome you and any other residents sticking up for High wage costs for a public school to start your own union P.S system.

A serious question for you, PaulRevere:

Why do you compare St. Louis County teacher salaries with salaries of "Missouri's average worker"? I'm sure we can agree that all salaries, and costs of living, are higher in metropolitan areas.

"Public school Teachers compare themselves to other Public S. teachers pay. Is that absurd?. Yes!"

So, public school teachers should be the only occupation that can't do salary comparisons? THAT is absurd.