Governor Perdue Recommends Teacher Pay Raise

ATLANTA, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his FY06 budget recommendations include a two-percent, across-the-board pay raise for Georgia teachers. This marks the second year in a row that Governor Perdue has recommended a teacher pay raise. The Governor was joined by legislative leaders, including Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson and House Speaker-elect Glenn Richardson, and State School Superintendent Kathy Cox for the announcement at the Governor’s Mansion.

“Teachers are among our most important public servants,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “In the budget that I will propose to the General Assembly, I include a two-percent pay raise for our state’s teachers beginning at the start of the 2005-2006 school year. In what continues to be challenging budget times, this proposal shows that our children, their education, and our teachers continue to be our top priority.”

Last year, Governor Perdue recommended a two-percent pay raise and an additional three-percent step to the teacher salary schedule. Approximately 75 percent of educators received a five-percent pay raise. The previous House leadership cut this pay raise in half by moving its effective date to January 2005.

Governor Perdue previously announced that his FY06 budget recommendations will fully fund enrollment growth in education (K-12, Board of Regents, and the Department of Technical and Adult Education). He will also fund enrollment growth for K-12 in the FY05 Amended budget.

Governor Perdue’s budget recommendations also include a two-percent pay raise for state employees beginning January 1, 2006.