Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards presented state lawmakers with his proposed $45.7 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. That figure represents a $460 million reduction from the current fiscal year, due to federal pandemic money expiring. Edwards proposes investing millions in additional pay for firefighters, police officers and especially, says Edwards, teachers.
“Every year we talk about how we wish we could give them more and how they deserve more, and they absolutely do,” the governor said. “I think this year we need to make sure our budget reflects that,” says Edwards.
The Governor’s Department of Administration budget proposes teachers receive a $3000 a year salary bump; not just a one-time bonus as lawmakers gave them last year. Though his actually budget calls for $2,000 raise, Edwards says Joint Budget Committee members they can find the additional $74 million needed to accommodate $3,000 raises for all public school teachers.
“We are confident that – yet again – when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets in May, they will recognize additional revenue in their forecast for next fiscal year that will be more than sufficient,” said Edwards.
Edwards also proposes permanent salary increases for school support staff. He tells lawmakers education has always been a priority of his administration.
“We’ve had the best budgets for education in the history of our state; investing at every level from early childhood through K-12,” said Edward, “and certainly including higher education. The budget that you’re going to get this morning will continue in that direction.”
