The Alabama Legislature is on "Spring Break" this week, but it's doubtful they're getting any time away from the key issue on the table. With only 3 days of the 2014 legislative session remaining, the question is, what will be the final outcome of the Education Budget?

The Alabama Education Trust Fund (ETF) has a budget of approximately $6 billion and is the largest operating fund in the State.

Last week, the House passed their ETF budget and here are the talking points:

• No pay raise for teachers.
• $38 million to PEEHIP (teacher health insurance) for active and retired employees to help with the rise in premiums due to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
• Increase of 1% in the middle school divisor, which will decrease the size of the classroom and allow for hiring of 400 new teachers across the State.
• Increase of $14.7 million in the "Other Current Expense" (OCE) fund, and allowing the local school systems to best determine the use of those funds.
• Increase of $5.7 million in funding for textbooks.
• Increase of $8.7 million in funding for transportation.
• Increase of $605k in funding for classroom supplies.
• Increase of $10 million in funding for Alabama's pre-k program.
• Increase of $6 million in funding for the career-technical dual enrollment program.

Some Republicans, and almost all Democrats are not happy with the budget passed by the House, which  does not include the 2% pay raise that Governor Bentley demanded.

The Senate began working on a compromise that will put more money into health insurance so employees will not face large increases in their premiums. Their budget includes a one-time bonus of 1% to education employees. The House didn't approve a bonus, but preferred to put more money towards insurance. This proposal would fund the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan at a rate of $780 per individual per month.

 

"The increased funding to cover the difference in PEEHIP premiums due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and increased pre-K funding are clearly positives. Of course, there are a number of negatives as well. There's no additional funding for technology and the increase in funding for textbooks is inadequate. Alabama Educators have only received a 2% raise since 2008 and this current form doesn't include the raise suggested by Governor Bentley. I'm hopeful that the Senate's version will address these issues."

- Dr. Jason Barnett, Vice Principal at Collinsville High School

 

Governor Bentley's promise to not sign a budget without the 2% pay raise may not matter in the end. The Alabama Constitution provides the Legislature the ability to override the Governor's vetoes and executive amendments by a simple majority in both the House and Senate.

The final three days of the 2014 session should be action-packed when they resume on April 1.