Teachers: Don’t spend gift all at once

By Cy Ryan

Saturday, April 3, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

This must be why paying taxes isn’t voluntary.

Nevada teachers — some of whom might soon be forced to take pay cuts or furloughs — should not count on a timely bonus from the fund created by Gov. Jim Gibbons to supplement their pay with voluntary donations.

As of Friday, the Education Gift Certificate program, unveiled during Gibbons’ Feb. 8 State of the State address, had received four contributions for a not-so-grand total of $261.

“It hasn’t been a big seller so far,” state Superintendent Keith Rheault said.

State officials’ plan was to distribute the donated money to teachers by the end of the year. It is being held in a trust fund and will remain there “until we get enough to do something,” Rheault said.

At this rate, that could take awhile. Divided among the state’s estimated 30,000 teachers, the $261 would give each educator less than 1 cent.

Gibbons announced the program as he called the Nevada Legislature into special session to address a $800 million budget deficit. Lawmakers and the governor ended up cutting state funding for K-12 and higher education by 6.9 percent.

“It’s time to stop whining that education in Nevada doesn’t work because of a lack of funding,” the governor said in his State of the State address.

At another point in the speech, Gibbons introduced the Education Gift Certificate: “These will be available at many state facilities, like the DMV, or you’ll be able to download one off my Web site. You can use the gift certificate to donate money to a nonprofit organization that will make sure your money is spent only on teachers’ salaries. For those of you who can afford to help our teachers, I encourage you do it.”

James Wells, deputy state superintendent, said the program’s four donations were from Donald and Sera Barry, who donated $200; Maurine Williams, who gave $50; Jim Spencer, who donated $10; and Gabriel Mazzo, who gave $1.

Dan Burns, Gibbons’ spokesman, said prominent people, including state legislators, sometimes say education should have more money and the program provides an opportunity for them to contribute.

“Nevada has been good to these people and companies, and this is a chance to help,” Burns said. “They could chip in and also claim a tax deduction.”

But one of the donors, who asked not to be identified, said it’s obvious the program isn’t going to generate any real money for teachers.

“It was a dumb idea,” the donor said.

Although the program has faltered so far, Gibbons has made good on his 2009 promise to donate 6 percent of his salary to provide a gift for the “Teacher of the Year” in each county. The Education Department received his $366 check this week.

The governor made the promise in his 2009 State of the State address, when he also proposed a 4.6 percent salary reduction for all state workers. Gibbons said he and his staff would contribute 6 percent of their salaries. So far the fund has collected $3,302.