First Blush (My Face is Red!)

This first report out on the House and Senate budget bills, which were reported from the money committees today, is cursory in nature, and we will follow with a much more thorough analysis in the days ahead.  I will address only the salary issue from the high level.

VEA requested the state share of a 6% salary increase for SOQ funded teachers and support personnel.  Senator Chafin, Delegate Plum, and Delegate Torian carried the amendments.

The Governor included no salary increases in his budget amendments, but vowed to work with both chambers to address the issue.

The Senate reported its budget first, so I’ll start there.  Here is the breakdown of salary increases:

• 3% for state employees, with a 2% base adjustment for targeted state positions with high turnover

• 3% for state supported local employees

• 2% for college faculty

• 1.5% for teachers and support personnel (10 months)

The disparity in the raises offered certainly raises questions regarding the priority that the Senate affords public school teachers – school employees got the short end of the stick.  This is one more reason to come to Richmond on April 18^th.

The House salary increase breakdown is as follows:

• 1.5% for state employees, plus funding to address salary compression

• 2% for state supported local employees

• 2% for college faculty

• 1.5% for teachers and support personnel (11 months)

Certainly the House is more equitable in its approach.

It would take a 15.1% increase to raise Virginia’s teacher salary to the national average.