Do you think it is right or fair to raise child care or your housing (rent) because you get promoted or a pay raise?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:34:47 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2013 7:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:46:58 -0500

Child care no, to an extent. I personally feel that E-1 to E-4 all costs should be lower than for NCO's and Officers. Those Soldiers really don't make a ton of money. I think they should be standardized with a set amount for Jr Enlisted, NCO's and finally Officers. As for housing, under current policies, the more rank you obtain the more square footage of living space you are authorized. So, IF you are in a housing building that is AT or above that authorized footage then yes, it should go up. IF you are in someplace that is lower footage than authorized then no, it should not raise. My opinion only of course.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2013 7:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:54:11 -0500

Child care yes. My child care was on a scale, not to mention discounted and as I went from E4 to E6 it has increased, but not to the point where I feel overcharged at all compared to the civilian sector.

Housing, NO. I do not think its fair for it to continually raise. Civilian sector is paying perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 of my BAH currently and their rent/mortgage wont change. I wonder if the onpost housing were assessed what would be considered the fair market value of the property and if we're being charged IAW that. Also my elec/water allowance shows 50.00, so that really makes me wonder 1284.00 -50.00 is still going to rent??? I completely understand we're paying for convenience, but still I feel like I'm being gouged sometimes.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Nov 17 at 2013 7:56 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:56:59 -0500

Doesn't pass the common sense test...the house doesn't change and the child doesn't require additional care.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 17 at 2013 8:00 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:00:01 -0500

Service should be based on the service, not the customers.  How much I make has nothing to do what how much a service should cost.<div>When I call to order a pizza they don't say ok how much money do you make.  The price of a pizza is the price of a pizza.</div><div>In any other market that is called price gouging.</div><div><br></div>

Response by CPT Mike M. made Nov 18 at 2013 9:12 AM

CPT Mike M. — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:12:52 -0500

The only way I can buy into it is if by having seniors pay more, that helps provide them with the necessary funding to stay running and give the junior enlisted a discounted rate. I try to think of it not as getting stuck with a higher bill when promoted and more that I'd be paying closer to what it SHOULD cost and that by doing so I'm helping out those who make less than me.

Really, I'm with you on this one, but I've just got to play devil's advocate even with myself to keep from trying to fight it too much.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2013 10:35 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:35:40 -0500

This is one of the reasons
why I do not live on post any more just so I do not have to deal with what I
think is completely unfair. Perhaps,
housing could be percentage charged based on rank. You see, I think it is not fair for a community
of post housing troops to pay the full BAH rate which is obviously different
yet you could have enlisted and office personnel in the same community.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 18 at 2013 11:12 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 11:12:16 -0500

They aren't raising the rent or the cost of child care, they are reducing the subsidy you receive since your income is going up. Recognize the problems of poverty wages for junior enlisted.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2013 1:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 13:31:14 -0500

For child care- Ask the lower enlisted if they think it's fair. We make a little more than they do so I'm ok with paying a little more to ensure that OUR Soldiers who make less than WE do can make ends meet. For housing- live off post if you don't like the BAH being pulled from your check. A lot of Soldiers take for granted everything that comes with living on post though. All they see is a large BAH number being deducted from their pay. They forget that the housing is rather good quality and utilities are included. Now, if you abuse utilities, you will be charged for it. If you use less you get a check for under usage. If military personnel were to get a house off post that are as big and nice as military quarters, they would be paying a lot more per month when you include utilities.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2013 1:34 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 13:34:17 -0500

In regards to childcare, the costs of services provided are lowered so that lower ranks can afford them. Compared to off-post services, the rates that servicemembers pay on post is substantially lower. Even if compared to the cost that a MAJ might pay for childcare, the rates are just beginning to compare to civilian services. As far as housing is concerned, it's almost the same principle which is applied to subsidized housing for low-income families. The basic housing cost is shared by all and divided based on what should be afforded by the family. The Army's main focus is "taking care of Soldiers," and this is what is being done when more is charged to those of higher ranks. Everyone must do what they can.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2013 11:03 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 11:03:42 -0500

I understand the methodology behind the tiered child care fees, having said that, the question is "Do I think?" so in my OPINION, I do not it is right nor is it fair to raise rates just because I received a promotion or pay raise. MSG Quick is spot on, the amount and level of care provided to my child did not change so why should I start paying more? The same goes for housing, on Fort Hood I was charged my full BAH as a SSG. My neighbor was a SPC, exact same size house and he is charged his full BAH. So why am I paying $112 more in rent? Do I receive something extra for this additional rent? If the privatized housing authority cannot make a profit on the rent being charged to E4 and below, then they should not have taken on the contract. Which is why I moved off post and purchased a home for less than my rent and am building equity.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2013 8:46 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:46:13 -0500

On Post privatized housing should charge rent based on the size of the home and at a comparable rate with the local economy. A Soldier's income should not be considered in determing how much they should be charged for services. And speaking of income, if the federal government does not recoginze an "allowance" as income when determining federal income taxes, why are the child care facilites allowed to include "allowances" as part of the total family income? If the system is going to be based on pay, then only use our actual base pay, not allowances.

Response by SFC James Baber made Nov 26 at 2013 1:55 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 13:55:36 -0500

I don't think it is fair for either. Yes the CC on post is cheaper sometimes, but if you are in the same facility and you get promoted the raised rate change many times is taking more than what you actual raise was to begin with. And with housing definitely not, because many times you are still living in the same quarters, so why should I being paying more to live in the same house I am already living in if nothing has changed except I have a few more dollars in my paycheck. Like I mentioned in another post, most things either within the vicinity of a base or on base are always looking for more ways to get a Soldiers money instead of helping them keep it to provide more for their families.