Wake County Schools Superintendent Del Burns Dusts Off Same Old Threat to Teachers' Dental Care  

School Chief Using Discredited Threat Of Cuts To Dental Service -- Media Should Question Recycled Threats  

RALEIGH -- Americans for Prosperity’s North Carolina State Director Dallas Woodhouse today released the following statement in response to Wake County schools Superintendent Del Burns’ threats to cut the dental benefits of Wake County teachers:

“In a cynical attempt to get every dime they can out of hard working Wake County taxpayers, Mr. Burns and the Wake County Public School System have again threatened to take dental care away from teachers. This is a discredited scare threat for political purposes. The Wake County Commissioners have prevented the WCPSS from doing this in the past and will do so again,” said Woodhouse.

“It appears that Mr. Burns is willing to use our hard working teachers as political pawns every two years in a sick game designed to suck as much money from taxpayers as possible. To threaten the teachers of Wake County with rotten teeth so you can create many new programs is dishonest and plain wrong. Mr. Burns will not cut the dental benefits of the teachers because he can not do so unless the Wake Commissioners approve, which they do not.

The people of Wake County are tired of these games being played by the School System.”

School dental benefits were threatened for the FY06 Budget. In response to this heavy handed approach by the Wake County School Board, The Wake Commissioners adopted a budget that placed the $3,300,000 in Reserve for Future Appropriations until the Board of Education approved their final budget with the dental benefit included. Once WCPSS adopted their budget and it included the dental benefits, the Board of Commissioners took action to transfer the funds from Reserve for Future Appropriations to WCPSS current expense budget.

News and Observer Story:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/wake/story/1012425.html

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org//