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Goochland supervisors signal support for 3% teacher pay increase, weigh health-insurance cost-sharing
Summary
At a joint Goochland County Board of Supervisors and school board work session, officials discussed a market-competitive 3% teacher pay increase and options to share rising health-insurance costs so employees'take-home pay is not eroded. Staff provided cost scenarios ahead of a May 5 decision.
Goochland County officials and school leaders signaled support for a market-competitive 3% pay increase for teachers and sought guidance on how to handle a near-term spike in health-insurance premiums.
Dr. Armstrong, presenting the school division's budget context, said the local cost of a 3% salary increase (combined local, state and federal sources) is roughly $1.1 million and that the schools had modeled options for absorbing some or all of a 9.1% insurance premium increase. "Three percent is our priority," Dr. Armstrong said, adding that the step increases are designed to keep the division competitive in the region.
Board members pressed for clarity on whether the county should match the schools'approach to insurance. One lawmaker, a member of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors, argued that "3% stays 3% when we meet that 583,000 number," saying the county should aim to ensure employees receive the full intended raise after insurance adjustments. Another supervisor framed the proposal as a recruitment-and-retention tool and urged staff to identify the precise dollars needed to avoid surprises.
County staff presented two modeled scenarios to illustrate the budget impact. Staff said that if the school division provided a 3% increase and fully absorbed a roughly 9.1% insurance increase, the total cost would be about $1,565,677; an alternative cost-sharing configuration was shown at roughly $1,000,006. School leaders also reported nearly $1 million in employer-contribution savings due to a projected 2% VRS change and some additional grant revenue that could increase flexibility in setting the local transfer.
The discussion emphasized preserving benefits and protecting staff take-home pay: several supervisors said they preferred a plan that allowed teachers to effectively receive the full 3% increase after accounting for insurance-rate changes. Supervisors and school staff agreed that staff should return with precise numbers so the Board of Supervisors can provide direction ahead of the May 5 budget decision.
Next steps: school and county staff will refine the cost estimates and return to the board with recommended transfer and cost-sharing options before the May 5 budget action.
