MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey proposed an education budget that includes pay increases for teachers and school employees during her State of the State address.
This week, the House Ways and Means and Education Committee will begin focusing on the education budget. The budget allocates $9.3 billion for the state's education needs.
Dr. Alison King, government relations manager for the Alabama Education Association, said those needs should be focused on teachers and support staff, which is what Ivey asked lawmakers to do.
“She is proposing a 2 percent pay increase for education workers and a significant increase in starting salaries for teachers,” Dr. King said.
Rep. Jamie Keel (R-Russellville) said the proposed wage increase says a lot about support for education in Alabama.
“There has been no change that I am aware of,” Rep. Keel said. “But this is a legislative process, and that's why we have a process that goes through the House and the Senate.
State Superintendent Dr. Eric McKee said the more money lawmakers can put into classrooms, the better. He also said there will be no more federal stimulus money after this year.
“It's going to cost Alabama billions of dollars, and that money is going to disappear. That money needs to be spent by December 2024.”
Rep. Kiel hopes to introduce the bill in the House next week.
