(The Center Square) – Salary increases for public school employees starting in the 2025-26 school year is in legislation passed by the Louisiana House of Representatives.
It will now head to the Senate.
Under the proposed law, each public school system would be required to provide at least a $2,000 salary boost for certificated personnel and a $1,000 increase for noncertificated personnel, along with related benefits.
The salary raises would be funded by savings generated from a reduction in employer contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, following the state’s payment of certain unfunded liabilities in this system.
“Almost all the districts will realize enough money to pay the $2,000 for certificated and $1,000 for non, a few will not,” said Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Praireville. “Worst case scenario, the school district, in total, could be short $6.2 million in the difference they’d have to make up.”
Certain school districts may be making additional expenditures which the state is unaware of, exacerbating their burden to the retirement system.
If schools fall short it would be on the Legislature to appropriate the necessary funds. Nine parishes are likely to not have enough to fully fund the raise, including Orleans, Washington, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, St Helena and Grant, according to Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie.
Amendments were adopted to provide funding from the state’s Minimum Foundation Program formula.
If the savings aren’t enough to fully cover the specified salary increases and related benefits, the remaining funds will come from the program formula.
If savings exceed what’s needed for these raises, the extra funds must be used for additional salary increases for school personnel or other employees, like bus operators, as determined by the local school system.
Other concerns raised by committee members included the elimination of the Quality Education Support Fund to help pay for the raises.
Part of that fund was used to provide support to early childhood education. The language in the original bill did not leave any room for the funding to provide support.
After amendments were passed, any excess funding must go toward instruction and school administration, as defined by State Board of Education rules and minimum foundation program requirements, or toward enhancing school security.