State proposes 7% teacher salary raise next year as part of $3.85 billion budget ask

Staff Reports
·2 min read

LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico Public Education Department is requesting a $3.85 billion budget for public schools in fiscal year 2022 to address the educator workforce crisis, lost learning time and student behavioral health.

New Mexico’s chronic teacher shortage nearly doubled last year to 1,000 vacancies and continues to be a hot topic.

One of the most significant changes proposed by the request is a 7 percent raise for all 50,000 school personnel statewide. This would be the largest one-year increase in recent history, and would bring New Mexico educator pay in line with Texas and Colorado, according to a news release from the department.

Hybrid learning takes place at Park Avenue Elementary in Aztec Municipal School District on Sept. 23, 2020. Teachers split their attention by teachers students in-person and online simultaneously.
Hybrid learning takes place at Park Avenue Elementary in Aztec Municipal School District on Sept. 23, 2020. Teachers split their attention by teachers students in-person and online simultaneously.

Read more: Las Cruces Public Schools employees advocate for higher pay, district stresses sustainability

This $3.85 billion request is $441.8 million higher than what the Legislature appropriated for fiscal year 2021.

Public Education Secretary Designate Kurt Steinhaus submitted the request Tuesday to the Department of Finance and Administration and will present it to the Legislative Finance Committee on Friday.

“This budget request reaffirms New Mexico’s belief in and support for educators, students, families and their communities,” Steinhaus stated in a news release on Wednesday. “We know our strength lies in our educator workforce, our parent partners and our children, who are hungry for success. The resources we’re requesting will attract new and retain veteran teachers and keep them engaged with our kids as much as possible.”

The PED broke down the specifics of the $3.85 billion budget:

  • $80 million to give all school personnel a 7 percent pay increase.

  • $200.5 million to raise teacher minimum salaries to $50,000, $60,000 and $70,000 depending on tier.

  • $1.5 million for educator recruitment.

  • $500,000 to support teachers seeking National Board Certification.

  • $3.7 million for teacher professional development.

  • $4 million to expand behavioral health services in schools.

  • $10 million to expand and sustain the state’s Community Schools initiative.

  • $11.5 million to improve literacy in this state-sponsored Year of Literacy

“New Mexico educators deserve better compensation – it’s as simple as that,” stated Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in a news release. “If New Mexico kids deserve the best, and they do, then New Mexico educators deserve the best. I want our educators to be the best-compensated in the region. It’s more important than ever. And we’re going to get it done.”

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico PED asks for $3.85 billion to help raise educator salaries by 7%