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Teachers and support staff urge board to raise pay as draft budget offers 1% and higher health premiums
Summary
At a public work session and budget hearing, dozens of teachers, education support personnel and union representatives urged the Washington County Board of Education to increase the draft 1% pay raise amid rising health-insurance costs and recruitment concerns; the board's budget committee outlined a $125.59 million funding request to county commissioners and recommended seeking additional local funding.
Dozens of teachers and educational support personnel told the Washington County Board of Education on March 17 that a proposed 1% across‑the‑board pay increase in the draft FY2027 budget would not keep pace with rising costs and threatens staffing stability.
“At 2.5% plus inflation and rising minimum wage, as teachers we deserve more than what is being offered,” said Shauna Mahalo, the union representative who read a series of anonymous statements from school staff, saying many teachers work more than 40 hours a week and pay classroom expenses out of pocket.
Multiple speakers described how a 1% raise combined with an expected 10% health‑insurance premium increase would leave many…
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