The “Rob Peter to Pay Paul” education decisions in Kentucky’s new state budget are already generating fallout.

Aside from cutting funding for higher education to provide more money to K to 12 schools (go figure), the new state budget mandates raises for teachers without fully funding all districts to provide those increases.

As a consequence of this unfunded mandate, the East Bernstadt school board is being forced to make some tough decisions. The Sentinel-Echo reports the district will lay off four staff members due to a shortage of funds.

I guess the teachers union will still make out OK. The loss of four individual members’ dues will undoubtedly be offset by increased dues from the salary increase for the other teachers and school staff.

Vicki Jones, superintendent at East Bernstadt Independent, says:

“They recommend that you only spend 75 percent (of the budget) in wages for teachers. Last year we were at 85 percent and it eats the budget quickly. This year we’re at 80 percent.”

Thanks to meddling legislators, who seem more concerned about keeping the teachers’ union happy than doing what is best for kids, it doesn’t look like East Bernstadt is going to hit that magic salaries-as-75-percent-of-all-expenses target anytime soon.