A news service for the people of Michigan from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Under the Comstock Public Schools teachers union contract, the average teacher salary was $53,756 in 2009. In addition, the district provides health benefits costing  $16,452 for the most commonly selected plan, which is 59 percent more costly than insurance provided to the average private sector worker in Michigan. Teachers contribute 5 percent toward their coverage,  compared to a 20 percent average contribution required from private sector workers in Michigan.

Many Lake Orion teachers collect substantially more than the average salary – as much as $63,550 for those at the top end who have accumulated additional pedagogy credentials and have more than five years on the job. The minimum salary was $43,577 for those meeting these criteria, which are the only criteria for setting teacher pay, since student performance is not considered.

Employees covered under the union contract receive automatic “step” pay hikes of around 5 percent for each additional year on the job until they “top out” on the salary schedule. Coaching and accepting duties in more than 50 extracurricular programs draws additonal amounts ranging from $330 to $7,354  annually. Also, 28 different department chairpersons receive an extra $325 annually. Teachers who announce their retirement before March 1 collect another $2,000.

In addition to the health coverage described above, the district provides dental and vision insurance. Employees who opt-out of the regular insurance because they’re covered under a spouse’s plan still get these additional benefits, plus an additional “cash-in-lieu-of” payment that was $550 in 2009.

Based on the current state-run teacher pension system, a Comstock teacher retiring after 30 years will get a $27,639 annual pension (based on the final “step” on the salary schedule), which they can begin collecting from their early 50s on. . This amount increases by 3 percent each year. Retired teachers also get subsidized health insurance.

Comstock schools collected $11,751 per student in property tax levies, state and federal grants in 2008-2009, of which around 70 percent was paid out to employees covered by the union contract described here.

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See also:

Lake Orion Teachers Health Benefits 52 Percent Above Private-Sector Average

How Does Michigan Teacher Pay Really Stack Up Against Private Sector and Teachers in Other States?

The Salary History of a West Bloomfield Public School Teacher

Employee Health Insurance Premium Co-Pays Still Rare at Public Schools

Michigan Teacher Pay 16.5 Percent Higher Than Indiana

United Van Lines has been monitoring outmigration data for 36 years. Michigan ranks 6th highest among states with number of people moving out of the state, which is actually an improvement from #1 since 2010. It all comes down to one word: Opportunity.

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SEIU TAKES $33M AND COUNTING
FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS

ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
[clock1]
Skimmed since November 2006
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Skimmed after reaching the MI Senate in June 2011
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Skimmed after the bill was signed April 10, 2012
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Skimmed after the Attorney General
opinion May 25, 2012

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.

The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.

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