Legislators worked up to the end of the session before reaching a budget agreement. The sticking point: Attacks on collective bargaining. CEA members and staff were able to help defeat efforts to take away rights to bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Read article- Collective bargaining, not money dominates budget fight.
The budget bill created some big wins:
- Increases town aid by $90 million with most going to ECS, beginning July 1, 2018.
- Adds $16 million for the Retiree Health Insurance Fund. For the first time in many years, the state is fully funding its share to this critical fund.
- Restores TEAM funding for new teacher mentoring.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, lawmakers were unable to compromise on repealing the 1% payroll tax on teachers.
