The Quick and Dirty on the House and Senate Budgets Presented Today

As we look at the budget bills we need to acknowledge what the House Appropriations Committee’s Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Jimmie Massie said as he presented his subcommittee report, “JLARC reports that when we factor in inflation that we are 13% behind 2009 levels in per-pupil funding for our schools.  While we are making great strides to restore the funds, we are not there yet.”

The good news today is that neither chamber significantly decreases the level of public education funding provided in the Governor's introduced budget.  Let me offer a very high level view of the House and Senate proposals.

Please remember that state funding for teacher salaries helps localities give raises.

SALARY

House

State workers             3% first year, 1% second year

College Faculty           3% first year

Teachers                     2% second year beginning 7/10/17, but school boards can get credit for the matching state funds if they give a raise in the first year

Senate

State Workers             2% in the first year beginning 12/16

College Faculty           2% in the first year beginning 12/16

Teachers                     2% in the first year beginning 12/16

The Senate plan is advantageous to teachers as they are treated in an equitable manner, and as VEA can seek a budget amendment in the next session to provide a salary increase in the second year of the biennium.

PER PUPIL FUNDING

House

FY16-17                     $5299             FY17-18         $5499

Senate

FY16-17                     $5284             FY17-18         $5461

Total Direct Aid to Localities

House

FY16-17         $6,600,838,697                    FY17-18         $6,888,926,634

Senate

FY16-17        $6,581,841,743                     FY17-18         $6,840,596,023

Carol Donohue will be providing detailed budget analysis in the days ahead.