POLL: Time for Teachers to Make Concessions?

Port Chester schools face a budget gap of as much as $4 million thanks to increased costs for employee pensions and benefits.

A list of solutions floated by district leaders includes for more aid and . In a meeting last month, Superintendent Edward Kliszus warned of worst-case scenarios that would involve slashing music instrumental programs, cutting back on money for athletics, and even to a half-day schedule.

Some taxpayers are saying that's not enough: It's time for teachers and administrators to share the burden, they say.

It's a conversation that's happening all over the country -- in California, unions are fighting efforts to bring public employee benefits in line with their private sector counterparts, despite some $240 billion in pension debt in that state. In Illinois, lawmakers have closed loopholes and pension "double-dipping," but haven't put a dent in an estimated $85 billion in unfunded liabilities. Even small states like Rhode Island are struggling to bring down the costs of pensions and benefits.

New York's liabilities are well-documented, and critics say the property tax cap passed last year won't have an impact without reforming funding mandates.

What do you think?