Judge Rules State Must Not Fund All I-732 Pay Raises

December 2001 - A recent ruling by a Thurston County Superior Court judge says that all public-school employees are entitled to cost-of-living raises under Initiative 732, but the state government is not responsible for the full cost. I-732, passed by voters in November 2000, was designed to give annual cost of living increases to teachers and others working in education.

Judge Christine Pomeroy's decision last Friday leaves it up to school districts around the state to pay the $100 million-plus cost of raises for teachers and other employees hired with local-levy revenues and federal grants. She ruled the state was responsible for funding raises only for employees hired under the state's basic-education funding. Teachers whose salaries are paid from other sources must receive their raises from those sources, the judge decided.

In the Renton School District about 440 staff members are funded by those other sources, most coming from local-levy tax dollars. The district, through the February 5, 2002 Education Replacement Levy, will ask voters to renew their continued support to obtain those funds. (See related story.)

If the ruling is upheld by the Supreme Court, the Renton School District will spend about $527,000 next year for cost-of-living raises. Some of that money could come from professional development funds or other programs normally used to improve student learning.

The decision will be appealed to the state Supreme Court, which is likely to decide the case early next year.