11. FY22 Budget Update
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Submitted by jenny_hunter on Fri, 12/03/2021 - 12:07pm
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Strategic Priority
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Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship
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Action
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Excellent Educators
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Information
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Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students
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Discussion
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Operations and Support
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On November 18, Governor Cooper signed the state budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Among other items, the budget includes raises and bonuses for teachers and state employees and cost-of-living adjustments for government retirees. Highlights include:
- Teacher salaries would rise an average of 2.5% in each year of the two-year budget. The increase is a combination of a 1.3% increase in the base salary schedule and step increases. Most teachers will receive a $1,000 bonus as well as a $300 bonus that is repurposed money for merit-based bonuses that can’t be given this year because of lack of valid accountability data due to COVID-19 disruptions.
- School principals will receive a 2.5% increase in each year of the two-year budget. Principals will also receive a $1,800 bonus.
- The budget includes a new $100 million fund to help school districts supplement teacher salaries. The allotments would be based on county wealth. Small and rural counties have trouble hiring and keeping teachers because they cannot afford to supplement state salaries to the degree that wealthier counties can. Ninety-five counties are eligible to receive these funds. The counties that do not qualify are Wake, Mecklenberg, Guilford, Durham, and Buncombe.
- State employees will receive 2.5% raises in each of the two budget years.
- The budget institutes a minimum wage for state employees of $13 an hour this year and $15 an hour next year.
- The budget includes bonuses for all local school employees and all state employees for their extraordinary work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees who make less than $75,000 a year will receive $1,500 bonuses. Employees who make more than $75,000 a year will receive $1,000 bonuses.
- Government retirees will receive one-time cost-of-living adjustments of 2% this year and 3% next year.
Current salaries/pay remain in effect until December 31, 2021. One must be employed effective January 1, 2022 to receive these salary changes/bonuses. The amount of the legislative increase for the period July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 will be paid in the form of a retroactive bonus/pay. No specific date has been provided but it will occur after January 1st. This is to provide time for the new scales to be put in place. The new schedules then go into effect on January 1, 2022 for the ongoing payroll.
Dr. McDaris and Dr. Weaver will answer questions from the board.
Groups audience: