Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A House committee will consider a new version of the education budget that does away with a teacher bonus and instead puts the money toward education employees' health insurance.
Budget committee chairman Rep. Bill Poole says a pay raise won't help educators if they have to pay every dime, plus some extra, to higher health premiums.
The budget committee will consider the proposal on Wednesday.
A lawyer for the state says the extra funding should avoid any substantial increases in insurance costs.
However, the head of the state teachers' association criticized Republican legislators' budgeting choices.
Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Henry Mabry says school employees went many years without raises while paying more for retirement and health benefits.
Gov. Robert Bentley is seeking a 2 percent raise for school employees.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
