Education budget heads to Alabama Senate

Sen. Del Marsh speaks on the floor of the Senate as the Alabama Legislature begins a special session at the Alabama Statehouse, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Legislators have so far been unable to agree on how to handle a projected funding shortfall of at least $200 million. Sen. Del Marsh speaks on the floor of the Senate as the Alabama Legislature begins a special session at the Alabama Statehouse, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Legislators have so far been unable to agree on how to handle a projected funding shortfall of at least $200 million.

By Associated Press April 11, 2016 2 min read

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – State senators are expected to debate a proposed education budget this week that could give a pay raise to most teachers and school employees.

The Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee are set to debate and vote on the proposed budget Tuesday afternoon.

The House-passed version of the spending plan would give a 4 percent pay raise to teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and other public school employees making less than $75,000 annually. Senate budget chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said he hopes the Senate would maintain the same raise amount.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said he would like the full Senate to vote on the budget possibly as soon as Wednesday.

“I don’t see a lot of major changes,” Marsh said last week. “Everyone is in the mood to give a raise.”