KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mesa Public Schools Plans For Teacher, Classified Staff Raises

Public school districts around the state are preparing their budgets for next year.

Arizona’s largest school district, Mesa Public Schools, is planning for a potential shortfall next year.

Administrators are trying to figure out how they’ll fund additional teacher raises and the minimum wage increase to $12 an hour.

The district reports the state budget has not provided enough money to fund the promised 20 percent pay teacher raises by 2020. As The Arizona Republic reported, the raises were slightly different in every district.

Mesa voters did not approve a budget override last fall, and the district predicts up to a $11.8 million budget deficit next year.

The district could call for another override election in November.

In the meantime district leaders are exploring ways to save money in areas such as transportation.

The school board will discuss the budget at a meeting Tuesday.

Mariana Dale was an assistant digital editor and senior field corrsepondent at KJZZ from 2016 to 2019.