Topic of the Day: Arizona Budget; Teacher’s Pay
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
It’s that time of the year when leaders join together to hash out a budget for the next fiscal year and as Arizona begins to see where to add and where to cut they’ve already hit their first snag. During their budget plan meeting Republicans introduced their proposal for teacher raises; their plan would be double what Governor Ducey had proposed.
Governor Ducey wants to raise teacher pay by 0.4 percent and then gradually raise it over the next four years. That would come in at just about a dollar a day; something republicans say is not enough. Democrats weighed in asking for double what the republicans have asked, noting that many teachers have had to take second jobs to make ends meet.
House Majority Leader John Allen accused democrats of assuming what that second job was for and that it was probably more about improving their lifestyle and not because they were struggling; Allen told the press that “maybe it’s to pay for a boat”. Because of his comment Allen has been met with a backlash from teachers coming to the house with toy boats.
House Minority Leader Rebecca Rios has told both sides of the aisle that anything less than a 4 percent raise would be insufficient and reminded the house that Arizona teachers are some of the lowest paid teachers in the country. In an interview Rios said, “I keep hearing it’s going to be a pro-education budget; well put your money where your mouth is.”
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
What do you think teachers should be paid?
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