Special Leglislative Update * February 21, 2006
PROPOSED EDUCATION BUDGET
PASSED IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
The House of Representatives Education Finance and Appropriations Committee gave a favorable report to the proposed $6 billion State Education Budget last Wednesday. A JCAFT delegation made up of President Vi Parramore; Health and Safety Director Tracee Binion; and Vice-President Cynthia Bonner, as well as other members of the AFL-CIO, and JCAFT Lobbyist were present as the fifteen-member committee held discussion on the proposed Education Budget Bill (HB 272).
Chairman of the Education Finance and Appropriations Committee, Richard Lindsay (D), called the budget “responsible, fair and conservative”. He explained that it was “responsible” because there were improvements made in all areas of education, from putting more money into classrooms to doubling the dollars for technology. He said that it was a “fair” budget because it includes all education employees and expands the pay matrix for teachers. Finally, Chairman Lindsay said that the budget was “conservative” because it pays money back to the rainy day fund, instead of spending all of the extra money in capital outlays. He went on to say that in 2007 a bond will be issued to address capital needs in the state.
The education budget includes the following major items in the 2006-2007 school year:
· Provides for a 5% pay raise for all education employees
· Provides for a 7% pay raise for retirees (2% from last year that they did not receive and 5% for this year)
· Fully funds PEEHIP and the Retirement System
· Adds two additional step raises for teachers – years 24-27, $500; year 27, $500
· Adds five instructional days to the school calendar
· Provides 20 million dollars to hire additional school nurses
· Provides $350 for technology per teacher unit
· Provides funding for 180 additional PE teachers
· Provides funding for 180 additional Exceptional Education teachers
· Increases transportation by 20 million dollars
· Increases substitute pay from $35 to $40 per day
· Increases funding for ESL programs by 3 million dollars
· Increase Technical Initiative funds by 7 million dollars
· Increases Alabama Reading Initiatives (ARI) funds by 16 million dollars
· Provides 3 million additional dollars for National Board Certification programs
· Increases funding for At-Risk programs by 8.7 million dollars
Governor Bob Riley’s Finance Director warned the Committee of providing pay raises based on probable sustained state growth. Under the Governor’s plan, the extra money from the Education Trust Fund would be used entirely to fund capital building programs, with little money being provided for pay raises or extra classroom initiatives. Chairman Lindsay commented that spending all of the excess money on capital programs would not leave any money for a “safety net” in case of a downward turn in the economy and would force the state to leave out necessary funding for the classroom. Dr. Joe Morton, State School
Superintendent, commented that the State Board of Education was pleased with the budget as recommended by the Committee and was especially satisfied with the 1 million dollars being spent on high school AP students for Distance Learning Programs made available for college bound students.
The JCAFT basically supports this education budget. We are happy to see that the budget provides a much needed pay raise to all of our employees as well as step raises for experienced teachers. However, JCAFT would like to have seen an additional line item for Workman’s Compensation for all education employees and an additional $250 per teacher in instructional money. T he JCAFT is continuing to lobby in Montgomery for these items.
Upon the favorable recommendation from this committee, the Education Budget Bill will now go to the entire House for a vote. If the bill receives a favorable vote, it will then go on to Senate Committee and finally onto the entire Senate. If the Education Budget does pass through the Legislature it still stands a chance of being vetoed by Governor Riley.