Fallin signs pay measures

Gov. Mary Fallin signed the common education budget bill and measures giving state employees and education support staff a raise on Tuesday.

The common education funding bill, House Bill 3705, provides a $2.9 billion appropriation for K-12 public education. It represents a 19.7 percent increase over the $2.4 billion common education appropriation for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The bulk of that additional money will go for the teacher pay raise Fallin approved last week that will provide on average a $6,100 annual increase.

“I’m pleased to sign this bill that provides a significant increase in spending for our public school system,” Fallin said in a press release. “I’m hoping this additional funding will result in improved K-12 public school results. Our job as a state is to empower our students, parents and teachers to succeed by setting the bar high and challenging each other to succeed.

Fallin also signed House Bill 1026XX, which provides $1,250 raises for school support personnel.

The $2.9 billion funding contained in HB 3705 includes $353.5 million for teacher pay; $52 million for support personnel pay: $33 million for textbooks: $17 million for the state aid formula; and $24.7 million for flex health care benefits.

The governor also signed on Tuesday HB 1024XX, which provides a tiered pay raise for state employees.

State employees making $40,000 or less per year would get a $2,000 raise, while those being paid more than $40,000 but less than $50,000 would get a $1,500 raise. Those earning more than $50,000 but less than $60,000 are to receive a $1,000 raise, and anyone earning more than $60,000 would get a $750 raise.

The raises are to take effect July 1.

All three measures take effect July 1, the start of the state’s 2019 fiscal year.