Louisiana legislative panel funds teacher pay raises in surprise move
Louisiana's House budget committee fully funded teacher stipends Monday for next year in a surprise move that previously seemed unlikely after voters rejected an amendment to the state Constitution that would have freed up funding for permanent raises.
Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack McFarland of Winnfield said he turned over every rock to find the $198 million to fund the $2,000 stipends for teachers and $1,000 for support workers.
The House Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 1 with no objections.
"I genuinely felt this was the right thing to do, and the members felt it should be a priority," McFarland said in an interview with USA Today Network. "I still think we need to find a permanent revenue stream to fund the raises, but until then, this is what we had to do, but I don't want to have to do it again."
McFarland had previously said he thought funding the full $2,000 was unlikely because the state faced a deficit.
But McFarland was able to find one-time money from a number of sources, the largest being $91.3 million from agency acquisitions like vehicles.
He also diverted smaller amounts from sources like $20 million in unfilled vacancies, $25 million from what he described as excess Medicaid funding, $25.5 million from interest savings after paying down $148 million on the State Police retirement debt, $20 million from Gov. Jeff Landry's hiring freeze and $30 million from "high dosage" tutoring funding for elementary and secondary schools.
McFarland left early childhood education funding intact.
Democratic Rep. Denise Marcelle of Baton Rouge praised the inclusion of teacher stipends in the budget.
"I want to thank the chairman and administration and everyone who has worked on getting these amendments done, particularly for teacher stipends," Marcelle said during Monday's committee hearing. "Thank you for looking under tables and around the corners (for the money)."
The budget bill will be debated by the full House Thursday.
If it clears the House as expected, the House Bill 1 will head to the Senate Finance Committee, where McFarland said he has consulted with leadership, including Republican Chairman Glen Womack of Harrisonburg and Republican Senate President Cameron Henry.
"I've met with the leadership in the other chamber to make sure we're aligned on our priorities," McFarland said.
More: Governor Jeff Landry bans soda, candy to advance RFK Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
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This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana teacher raises could be on the way after budget proposal
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