Regarding Governor Rick Scott’s Proposed Teacher Raises
By BTU President Sharon Glickman, Esq.
January 23, 2013
“Florida’s teachers need raises, but the state has a long tradition of taking away as much as they give to public schools, teachers and support staff as well as our students.
The fact that the Governor is proposing raises after he just balanced the state budget on the backs of the state’s middle class by imposing a 3 percent mandatory retirement income tax on all public employees rings pretty hollow for teachers and support staff.
The state has been playing a shell game with public school funding for years by taking away far more money than they provide teachers, support staff and students.
Despite the Governor’s rhetoric, the facts remain Florida’s teachers are paid 28th in the nation and our schools receive amongst the nation’s lowest levels of state funding.”
KEY POINTS
- The starting salary for Broward teachers is $39,000.
- The average salary for Broward teachers is $46,000.
- Florida teachers are paid 27th in the nation.*
- According to the 2010 US Census, Florida ranks 50th in per capita spending on K-12 education and 41st in per pupil spending.
- Earmarking money for teacher salaries is good, especially in light of the 3 percent cut imposed two years ago. It’s a small step in the right direction.
- With the recent 3 percent mandatory retirement income tax that impact all public employees, any raise proposed by the Governor will really bring teachers back to zero.
- The BTU is very concerned about all public school employees and their students, which includes assuring increases in state funding for all schools, teachers, support staff and students.
- While the governor may propose an across-the-board pay increase, it’s still subject to collective bargaining and that districts have to deal with plenty of unfunded mandates as well.
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