Byron Yankey's blog

A drive

This evening I needed to take a country drive to sort some things out.  I drove around Lake Lowell. Locals call it the lake, but it is really an irrigation reservoir.This time of the year when the water is high and there has not been any agricultural run off it looks inviting.  By August however, the sediment and particulate levels are so high it is rumored that children can walk across the water without getting wet.

On the northeast side of the lake there is a hill. From there you can look out across the valley to the mountains. Tonight it was beautiful, like a post card. One relative good thing about this awful economy is that it has stopped the mindless building of houses on premium farm lands.  I hope the slow down will allow better land use planning in the future.

The sunset was incredible, but the wind was gusting enough to send a Volkswagen sized tumble weed flying across the road. I found myself driving like a farmer; slowly weaving from one side of the road to the other as I noticed things alongside. Here is a partial list of things I saw.

• two bald eagles
• countless ducks and geese
• a handful of pheasants
• 14 deer, yes I said deer
• one fox
• a brindle colored dog carrying a shoe
• a herd of domestic buffalo  and
• two teenagers making out

It was a great drive.

Gas Tax Hike

I love this headline Nine amendments and counting...

It will be interesting to watch the wrestling that will occur in the House Transportation Committee. This will be a game of chicken between legislators and the Governor's Office.  An increase is needed, but better long range planning is needed more. When you throw in the lack of credibility many have in the Idaho Transportation Department, this has the makings of a festive event.

Can you say steamroller...?

Betsy Russell reports:

The Senate Education Committee spent an hour debating HB 252, the consensus bill to allow cuts in school funding when school districts declare financial emergencies, before finally approving it this afternoon by a single vote.

This is one of two bills that will require passage and signing by the Governor to make the recently approved JFAC education budget work.

Here's a few bullets from this bill:

• This changes a state law to allow districts to furlough employees.
• It requires school districts to spend down their reserve/contingency funds down to 5.5% of their budget.
• After spending down to a dangerously low reserve level districts can negotiate with employees to work fewer days.

Let me point out a little irony. The majority party is saying,"We can't spend the rainy day funds (ie.reserve funds) because we might need them in the future."

 

Here's the voice I hear in my head,"but school districts, you have to spend yours down to ridiculously low level and that is okay, as a matter of fact, that can be your only solution."

Chocolate Applesauce Cake

I found this recipe while looking through an old Farm Journal Cookbook. I tried it and wow! It is simple to make and is moist with a rich, chocolate flavor.  The recipe called for it to be baked in a 9 x 13 pan or two 8 inch rounds.  I made it in three loaf pans.  We ate ours plain, I can't imagine it would need icing.

Cream 1/2 cup butter or margarine with 1 1/2 cups sugar.
Add 1 1/2 teaspoon soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1teaspoon cinnamon (This is optional but I loved the faint extra flavor it added.)
Mix until blended.
Add 1/3 to 1/2 cups cocoa.   Mix well.
Add 2 eggs one at a time.
Next add 2 cups applesauce (I use unsweetened.)
Mix in one package of chocolate chips and/ or 1 cup nuts.
Finally, add 2 cups all purpose flour one at at time.
Pour batter into greased pans and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.  Check with a toothpick.  Remove to a wire rack to cook.

Just wondering...continued...

As I was listening to the NPR local radio station (KBSU), Congressmen Simpson and Minnick were being interviewed regarding the Economic Stimulus Package. This was a rebroadcast of a IPTV Dialog segment from March 26th. Something popped into my head again.

I was wondering...where does the interest on all of the money that is in Idaho's various "rainy day" funds go?

AND

I was wondering...where will the interest earned on the Federal Stimulus Dollars that will be banked and not spent this year go?

(You will have to forgive me because I am an educator.)  YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT WILL BE TO ANSWER THE PREVIOUS TWO QUESTIONS.  THE FIRST READER TO DO SO WILL RECEIVE 15 BONUS POINTS....  

Flipping through my Smithsonian Magazine

My Smithsonian magazine came today.  I savor every issue, reading just one article at a time so as to spread out my enjoyment.  What caught my eye this afternoon? An article called Boise Idaho: Big Skies and Colorful Characters.  I thought I would share.

ps: Don't miss the photo gallery to check out some great photographs

Just wondering...

I was wondering...would the legislators be willing to take a pay cut commensurate with the average state employee?

I was wondering which other elected officials would be willing to do the same...?

I was wondering if the head of each governmental agency will be getting a cut in pay or the same number of furlough days as their employees...

What about the presidents of the universities, athletic coaches, department deans;the list goes on and on.

Wouldn't it be great if there was some full disclosure on these questions?

I don't want to be mean spirited...I was just wondering.

More reports about education cuts

Idaho budget writers snatched $109 million from Idaho public schools Friday morning, backfilling some of the state cuts with some $40 million in federal stimulus money, but leaving teachers, principals and superintendents with a $69 million hole in the coming fiscal year.

From Boise Weekly's citydesk , I love the term "snatched". And here is that term "back filling". It will be added to the list of budget jargon including "furlough" and "negative revenue sources". I think we are all getting an education in how to market bad news that is getting worse every day the legislature is in session.

I'm not adding this link to make fun of Superintendent Luna, just adding it because it is funny.  Watch and listen for "misstatement" during Superintendent Luna's press conference . I often get my words mixed up, but this is unfortunate timing.

Thoughts from Nicole...

Senator LaFavour's Notes From The Floor again demonstrates that good and thoughtful leaders speak from the heart and ask hard questions. 

More cuts to education....

Don't let the numbers fool you, there will be cuts.  Regardless of the posturing, the net impact will be great on many districts.  I spoke to a Superintendent from a small Treasure Valley district this afternoon. Even the best case scenario will mean a supplemental levy will be needed for his district to survive.

A consequence of this budget is that more and more district will have to go to their voters for additional money.   And read carefully, local voters will be asked to approve tax increases while the public education rainy day fund goes untapped. From Eye on Boise:

Luna noted, “We still have over $100 million available for the next fiscal year if revenues continue to go down.” That’s because Republican lawmakers on the joint budget committee declined to tap into the state’s public education stabilization fund, which still has $114 million in it.

The cuts in general fund support of public education total $109 million.

The cut is that large, in part, because Rep. Cliff Bayer successfully led a move to shift $20.5 million in general funds out of the school budget and replace it with federal stimulus money that otherwise would have been saved for schools next year.

This maneuver was quaintly called "backfill".  Isn't that cute? It was a shift, a move that eliminated available money for education and returned it to the general fund to be parceled out by JFAC to other areas.  Yes, I know other budgets are in need of relief also. However, this move does not demonstrate a commitment to use all appropriate resources to support public education.

It must be pointed out that two major cuts included in this budget will require new statutes before they can be made.  These areas are: 1) transportation reimbursement 2) salary reduction.  Both of these will need to be past out of committees and voted on by both the Senate and the House and then they must be signed by the Governor.  Today's inclusion in the budget is either an act of arrogance or an oracle of things to come. Feels like a steam roller to me.

Final plug for Betsy Russell.  Great final story. Watch the Idaho Reports tonight.  I will.