| Houston schools teachers have not had significant pay | | | | to standard. |
| raise in seven years. The new Houston schools | | | | - $25.1 million for overall school building maintenance. |
| budget plans for an average 8.6 percent pay raise for | | | | - $927,300 (nearly $1 million) to maintain the increased |
| teachers for the 2006-07 school year, with a total of | | | | police and K-9 presence at the Houston schools. |
| $49.2 million in funding. The state is providing $31 million | | | | - Four percent raise across the board for school bus |
| for the pay raises, and the Houston schools are | | | | drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and hourly |
| providing $18.2 million from their own revenues. An | | | | employees. |
| additional $8 million increase also is included for teacher | | | | - Four percent raise for Houston schools |
| performance pay. | | | | administrators. |
| This is all part of the Houston schools proposed $1.4 | | | | This is all from the proposed budget's General Fund, |
| billion budget for the 2006-07 school year, and the | | | | which increases by 5.7 percent under the Houston |
| Houston schools will NOT increase school tax property | | | | schools new plan. The Houston schools additional |
| rates by the allotted four cents per $100 of property. | | | | revenue for the coming school year comes from the |
| The Houston schools believe the pay raises should | | | | increase in local property values and the state's newly |
| make their district more competitive to attract more | | | | adopted school finance system, which shifts more of |
| teaching talent. Newly recruited teachers will start at | | | | the funding of public education burden to the state. This |
| $40,268, an increase from last year's $36,050 starting | | | | decreases the cost of education for the local |
| pay. | | | | taxpayers from the 87.1 percent last year to only 77.6 |
| The Houston schools proposed budget also includes | | | | percent for school year 2006-07. |
| the following: | | | | Separate from the General Fund is a special |
| - $1.9 million for principal and assistant principal pay | | | | appropriation from the state legislature for the Houston |
| raises of 5.1 percent. Again, the Houston schools intent | | | | schools. It will place $11.8 million more next year into |
| is to make their district more competitive. This also | | | | improving high schools, with each receiving an extra |
| includes additional incentives for principals of larger | | | | $187 in per student funding. The Houston schools intend |
| schools and/or those with higher numbers of | | | | to add an additional $39 per student to this special |
| disadvantaged students and gifted and talented | | | | appropriation, based upon the types of students and |
| students, which require more oversight and innovation | | | | specific needs of each school. |
| to educate. | | | | Lastly, the Houston schools put aside extra money this |
| - $3 million to help academically struggling Houston | | | | year to cover the cost of fuel for school vehicles and |
| schools. | | | | electricity. The Houston schools have a total of 1,000 |
| - $4.8 million more for elementary and middle schools. | | | | buses and other vehicles in its fleet. They expect the |
| - $12 million for small-sized Houston schools that do not | | | | cost of fuel to increase by $3 million. The cost of |
| receive as much per-student funding but need the | | | | electricity for Houston schools is expected to increase |
| revenues for instructional improvements. | | | | by $9.1 million over last year's expenditure. |
| - More than $10 million to help bring school buildings up | | | | |