State education budget steadily on the rise over the years
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Over the last few years the amount of money schools have received from the state has steadily increased. For the upcoming fiscal year beginning in October schools will have even more money, with the education budget for the 2019 Fiscal Year being near $6.6 billion.
Sen. Arthur Orr, the Education Budget Committee Chair, said this upcoming fiscal year is a strong budget year.
"We gave pay raises, 2.5 percent, to educators," said Orr.
The amount of money in the Education Trust Fund has steadily increased over the last years.
Fiscal Year Education Budget:
- FY 2014- $5.76 billion
- FY 2015- $5.93 billion
- FY 2016- $5.99 billion
- FY 2017- $6.33 billion
- FY 2018- $6.42 billion
- FY 2019- $6.63 billion
Maghen Lowery, the principal at Mixon Intermediate School, said the school is looking forward to using this money.
"Our transportation budget will be close to being fully funded, which is fantastic. We will have an increase in money for technology and teachers supplies," Lowery said.
Lowery said the additional money can also help the school potentially hire more teachers, and improve the student-to-teacher ratio.
Orr said lawmakers are looking into providing more raises for teachers and expanding programs like Alabama's Pre-Kindergarten program next year.
"We're looking at pay raises next year because those revenues are going well, the economy is growing here in Alabama," said Orr. "Things are going really well, that means more tax revenue and that helps our schools."
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