Let me get the straight. The General Assembly has increased the tax on alcohol by 50 percent for all Marylanders to benefit the school systems in Baltimore City and Prince George's County. Yet Baltimore City negotiates with the BTU so that 3,000 paraprofessionals may get pay raises, some retroactive to July 2010, more holidays off and let's not forget spring break for non-school workers. Who negotiated with the union? What a slap in the face to the citizens of the other 22 counties.

Susan Peltz, Perry Hal