South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Reader’s response misses point of original letter about Mehlville

To the editor:

The point Sharon Needham was making in response to

was apparently missed.

that she is a senior on Social Security and received a 1.7-percent cost-of-living increase compared to a 2.4-percent salary increase for Mehlville teachers. It’s obvious the teachers got more than a cost-of living increase on a salary that is at least double or more than that compared to a Social Security recipient’s benefit.

Food and medical costs are proportionally a much greater percentage of the Social Security income than that of a teacher’s salary. If you did any grocery shopping or paid for health-related services this past year — including insurance — you know that food and medical expenses increased significantly. So in comparison, there is a significant difference in remaining funds to cover all other living expenses.

To cover those expenses, Sharon is saying she has to cut her spending and make adjustments. I would say the point was that it is not very frugal to grant salary increases if Mehlville School District is projecting a budget deficit for 2015. Gerald did not make any counter to this point with facts.

He only used “imaginative” scenarios.

I do not begrudge anyone an increase in salary. However, the taxpayers who are funding the Mehlville School District need to be taken into consideration. Perhaps limiting the salary increase to cost-of-living and finding areas to cut expenses would have been more reasonable and frugal.

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