The House Appropriations Committee is taking a different approach to funding proposed teacher pay raises. Chairman Jerome Zeringue says instead of providing more money in the state budget for teacher salaries, the panel proposes using state funds to pay down debt in the teacher retirement system, freeing up funds for local school systems to give teachers a raise.
“And they are in the best position to determine how and best to utilize those funds,” said Zeringue.
The House Appropriations Committee sent a proposed budget to the House floor that does NOT contain 197-million dollars in K-through-12 public school teacher pay raises. It also has less dollars for higher education and early childhood education that the governor proposed.
While speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor John Bel Edwards got word of what House Republicans are proposing.
“Didn’t know that education ceased to be a priority, but we are going to continue to work with the Legislature, this is the first step in the process,” said Edwards.
Speaking of funding, Governor Edwards was asked about LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey’s recent comments that it’s time to build a new basketball arena or dramatically renovate Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Edwards says there are other buildings on LSU’s campus that need replacement too.
“I don’t blame a basketball coach for wanting the best possible basketball arena, I will tell you for me, the biggest priority for me would be a new library,” said Edwards.
There have been numerous reports on the poor condition of LSU’s main library.
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