Mississippi News
Can Mississippi afford to raise teacher pay and eliminate the income tax?
Can Mississippi afford to raise teacher pay and eliminate the income tax?
Note: This analysis first published in Mississippi Today's weekly legislative newsletter. Subscribe to our free newsletter for exclusive early access to weekly analyses.
Remember mid-January, when seemingly all legislative leaders could do was sing the praises of public school teachers as they proposed historic pay raises?
House and Senate leaders garnered broad praise from public education groups in January for passing proposals that would not only offer short-term raises, but increase the teacher pay scale in the long run.
But since then, lawmakers have largely focused their time and energy into cutting or eliminating the state's income tax, which generates billions in revenue that helps pay those teacher salaries, among many other critical public services.
Teachers across the state are having trouble separating the teacher pay raise and income tax cut proposals.
“The song lawmakers have always sung was that we can't fund MAEP (the state's public education funding formula) because we don't have the money. Now they're pointing to all this extra money to justify cutting the income tax? It's not adding up,” said Cagney Weaver, a national board certified teacher at Biloxi Upper Elementary. “I really do think there are good intentions in wanting to pay teachers more and we'll see what happens with those bills. But why aren't they talking more about how cutting the income tax could gut the state budget and keep them from paying us down the road?”
As bickering between House and Senate leaders over tax cut proposals continues to worsen, lawmakers face a critical deadline on March 1 to decide what to do with the teacher pay raise bills. And educators, watching closely this week, worry that teacher pay could potentially get caught in the middle of the tax cut fight.
“There's such a long way to go before anything meaningful gets done for teachers,” Weaver said. “And what reason have lawmakers ever given us to feel optimistic about any of this?”
READ MORE: The Mississippi Republican income tax bet
One year ago today, House and Senate leaders were publicly fighting over a major tax cut proposal. They faced the first major deadline to handle bills originating in the opposite chamber, and because of the bickering, many bills died a quiet death without a vote or even debate. Among the legislation caught up in the fight: a pay raise for public school teachers.
Today, House and Senate leaders are publicly fighting over a major tax cut proposal. They face the first major deadline to handle bills originating in the opposite chamber, and because of the bickering, Capitol observers fear many bills will die a quiet death without a vote or even debate. Among the legislation caught up in the fight: a pay raise for public school teachers.
But for a last-second save last year by Senate leaders, the teacher pay raise would have died on deadline day because Speaker of the House Philip Gunn was upset with a lack of Senate support for his tax cut plan.
READ MORE: Hosemann doesn't like Gunn's tax proposal. Is Capitol gridlock looming?
A lot of this session looks and feels the same as last year. Both chambers passed their own teacher pay raise bills once again — although this year's proposals are much larger and would change the pay structure moving forward. The Senate plan would increase annual spending on teacher pay by $210 million, while the House plan would increase annual spending on teacher pay by $219 million. Either proposal, if passed, would represent one of the largest public school teacher salary investments in decades.
But as lawmakers in both chambers mull cutting or eliminating the state's second-largest revenue source, are those investments sound ones that can be guaranteed long-term?
Gunn, like last year, is expending great political energy to completely eliminate the income tax cut, which could result in $1.5 billion less per year in collected revenue. Hosemann, in response to Gunn, introduced a much smaller income tax cut, but one that could still result in $317 million less per year in collected revenue.
Hosemann says Gunn's plan is fiscally irresponsible in the long run, and Gunn says Hosemann's plan doesn't go far enough. The rancor among House and Senate leaders about their dueling tax cut proposals is growing by the hour.
READ MORE: 5 things to know about the Great Mississippi Tax Cut Battle of 2022
That fighting has many Capitol observers fearing this deadline day will mean the death of many bills. Teachers worry about their pay raise bill, though it appears unlikely teacher pay will die this week. But it's very possible lawmakers could opt to kill one of the two pending teacher pay proposals — a prospect that puts many educators on edge.
And even if the pay raise does survive this week, Mississippi teachers will remain anxious over the financial uncertainty of a looming tax cut. All of these thoughts and sentiments are just part of the long-standing feeling among so many public school teachers that lawmakers aren't in their corner.
“If Mississippi cannot afford to fully fund public schools and pay teachers at the Southeastern average, we cannot afford an income tax cut. It's that simple,” Nancy Loome of public education advocacy group The Parents' Campaign wrote last week. “… Legislators are telling teachers that they can't afford to bring teacher pay to the Southeastern average, telling parents that they can't afford to fully fund their public schools, and telling children that they can't afford to honor the Building Fund that would help to fix their schools' moldy classrooms and broken bathrooms.”
As the Capitol grandstanding heats up, all teachers can do is wait to see if they'll get the support they've requested for years.
“Every session is another letdown in some way,” Weaver said. “Our districts and schools do such a good job working with what we've got, but that's not sustainable. The people in Jackson need to do better for us. It's as simple as that.”
READ MORE: Want a $1,000 check? Lawmakers, flush with cash, could send you one instead of cutting taxes
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Jackson will host National Folk Festival for three years
SUMMARY: Jackson, Mississippi, has been selected as the host city for the National Folk Festival from 2025 to 2027, outshining 42 other cities in the nation. This prestigious event is the longest-running traditional arts festival in the U.S., featuring a free, three-day, outdoor celebration of music, dance, and traditional arts. Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba expressed excitement about the honor, highlighting Mississippi's rich musical heritage. The festival is expected to attract over 330,000 visitors, generating more than $60 million in economic impact. Held in November, the festival will feature multiple stages, a dance pavilion, traditional crafts, diverse foods, and folklore activities.
The post Jackson will host National Folk Festival for three years appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Court upholds conviction of man sentenced in Jackson rapper’s death
SUMMARY: The Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld Antoine Carr's conviction and life sentence for the first-degree murder of Jackson rapper Lonnie Taylor, known as Lil Lonnie. Carr's appeal, which claimed prosecutorial misconduct, was rejected, with the court finding no reversible error. The conviction stems from an April 2018 shooting where Taylor was found shot in a vehicle. Carr, along with Monya Davis and Marshun Carr, were arrested in Texas. Davis also received a life sentence, which he unsuccessfully appealed, while Marshun Carr was sentenced to 18 years. The shooting took place on April 19, 2018, in Jackson, Mississippi.
The post Court upholds conviction of man sentenced in Jackson rapper's death appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
East Webster baseball rallies to defeat West Marion in game one of 3A championship
SUMMARY: East Webster baseball triumphed over West Marion 12-6 in game one of the 3A championship series. Despite falling behind 6-3 after a tough fourth inning, East Webster rallied with nine unanswered runs for the win. Wolverines' head coach Blake Hutchison attributed the victory to a team effort and noted their strong response to adversity. With this win, East Webster remains undefeated in the playoffs and is now one win away from securing their fourth state title. They will play game two at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
The post East Webster baseball rallies to defeat West Marion in game one of 3A championship appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
State auditor cracking down on Mississippians receiving unemployment benefits
-
Mississippi News Video7 days ago
Jackson has a gang problem
-
Local News4 days ago
Family files lawsuit after teen’s suicide in Harrison County Jail
-
Mississippi Today6 days ago
On this day in 1950
-
228Sports7 days ago
George County Pours Runs In 6A South State Title Victory At PRC
-
Our Mississippi Home4 days ago
Deer Fly Season on the Coast – Oh My!
-
Mississippi Business4 days ago
Connor Industries locating operations in Coahoma County
-
Local News Video6 days ago
In the Kitchen with J's Restaurant