- Louisiana teachers likely face a pay cut next year due to a state budget deficit and the failure of a constitutional amendment that would have funded stipends.
- The House Appropriations Committee chairman says fully funding the $2,000 teacher stipends would worsen the budget deficit, potentially leading to cuts in healthcare and higher education.
- Gov. Jeff Landry, who supported the failed amendment, acknowledges the challenge of finding recurring funds for teacher raises.
- A glimmer of hope remains for teachers: if state revenues exceed projections, one-time raises may be possible later in the budget process.
Louisiana teachers are likely to take a pay cut next year as the state faces a budget deficit and voters rejected an amendment that would have carved out money for annual stipends moving forward.
Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack McFarland said the first draft of next year’s budget won’t include the $2,000 stipend for teachers or $1,000 stipend for support workers that both groups received the past two years.
“I’m working hard to find a way to include some raise for teachers, but finding $2,000 isn’t realistic at this point,” McFarland said in an interview with USA Today Network…