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Committee warns May 16 teacher pay amendment could strip $2.3 million from Orleans Parish schools
Summary
Finance staff told the Orleans Parish School Board Budget & Finance Committee that a May 16 ballot amendment to make teacher pay raises permanent could eliminate 8G education‑excellence funding, costing the district an estimated $2.3 million and complicating retirement rate timing; staff pledged to supply more analysis before the full board meets Thursday.
Finance staff warned the Orleans Parish School Board Budget & Finance Committee on March 24 that a May 16 ballot amendment to make teacher pay raises permanent could eliminate a longstanding education‑excellence funding stream known as 8G and cost the district roughly $2.3 million.
Jennifer Salstein, who presented the committee’s legislative update, said the proposed amendment would fold 8G funding into the teacher‑pay formula if approved by voters. “If the amendment passes, currently 8G in the education excellence funding will go away completely, which will result in approximately $2.3 million loss to the students of Orleans Parish,” she told the committee.
Why it matters: the committee was told that the loss would amount to about $51.86 per student and could complicate the district’s retirement liability timing. Salstein said the timeline is tight — voters would decide May 16, while a state underfunded‑liability payment and subsequent Teacher Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) rate changes could be determined weeks later, with district rates made effective July 1.
Board members pressed staff for detail. A committee member asked whether this proposal resembles legislation considered last year and requested a direct comparison; Salstein and Superintendent Dr. Fatima Fulmore said they would provide more documentation and an analysis before Thursday’s full‑board meeting. Finance staff also said final revenue numbers will be posted after the external audit is completed and that April DFA (Division of Administration) reports will reflect finalized figures.
Context from the presentation: staff cited recent month‑to‑month revenue boosts tied to property sales and other receipts and showed the district’s January financial statement in summary. Several numeric figures in the committee presentation were garbled in the transcript; staff said they will publish the audited, reconciled amounts in April’s DFA materials.
What’s next: staff committed to delivering clearer documentation of the potential fiscal impact, including a comparison to prior proposals, and to provide a breakout of a separately raised $2.2 million Leah Chase item that a board member asked to see in detail. The committee did not take a vote on the ballot matter; the board will receive these materials and may consider related budget action as part of its May/June cycle.
