When the same legislative body that votes for rate increases in utilities and health plans for state employees, but does not raise state employee salaries to at least offset those price increases, then the state is actively cutting pay for people like public school teachers.

A new budget was not passed; therefore, the state automatically reverts to the previous budget’s recurring spending levels.

The only “budgetary” item that has been addressed has been a “mini-budget” that does not give any new raises to teachers and keeps the salary schedule from last school year in place. It does finance any step increases for current teachers and the pension fund.

So, we are financing this year with last year’s budget numbers. When the prices of utilities seems to be rising as well as other costs of living, then it usually means that running schools costs more as well. Remember that the same legislative body that could not pass a new budget this summer allowed for Duke Energy to raise its prices.