Speaker: Lawmakers Eye $1,000 Raise for Mississippi Teachers
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — House Speaker Philip Gunn said Monday that Mississippi public school teachers are likely to get a one-time raise of $1,000 in the coming year.
Gunn made the statement after legislative leaders met Monday to increase their revenue outlook for the current budget year, as well as the 2020 year beginning July 1.
The debate over how much of a raise to give teachers has been a centerpiece of this election-year legislative session. Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves had both proposed a $500 raise this year followed by a $500 raise next year. House Democrats prompted that body to demand a pair of $2,000 raises. Now Gunn says lawmakers will do $1,000 in the coming year and not promise anything for the 2021 budget, which will be written by lawmakers chosen in this November's elections.
"We feel pretty good if we are able to get a thousand this year," Gunn said.
Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/mar/26/speaker-lawmakers-eye-1000-raise-mississippi-teach/