I simply don't believe, in the politically charged climate, numbers that aren't backed up. According to your numbers the benefits rose 44% in a two year period. BS.
They are numbers that came from the Milwaukee Public Schools and were verified by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
According to the Excel file, from the link you provided, 2010 MPS average teacher salary, which would have been for the fiscal year that ended in June of 2010, was already $56K a year, with an average fringe benefit package of over $30K a year - totaling over $86K a year. The difference between $86K and $101K isn't 44%, it's more like 17.5% over two years, an average increase of 8.75% a year. The salary increase from $56K to $59.5K would be a modest 3.125% a year for 2 years to reach the $59.5K for the fiscal year starting in July of this year. We can all agree that health insurance costs have gone up quite a bit in the last 2 years and we know that pension contributions are not a static figure, they are increased along with the pay since they are a percentage of the salary received.
I'm sorry TM, but I don't think a 17.5% increase in total compensation over a two year time period rises to the level of bovine scat. I have no idea of where you are coming up with a 44% jump. Perhaps if you are comparing the Milwaukee numbers I used to the state average you might get there, but that would be an error since you would need to compare the Milwaukee figures in both instances to come up with an accurate rise, or state averages in both instances. Using the state average as the baseline isn't accurate, you need to start with the Milwaukee baseline to correctly compute the increase.
I will have to look at the spreadsheet again and verify as your numbers don't match with the number I cited a few posts back. Its quite possible that I'm wrong on this as I have been into the vicodin.
