SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are hoping to keep teachers in the state, by giving them a bigger paycheck. House Bill 156, proposes to tack another $5,000 a year onto base teacher salaries. In 2022, New Mexico teacher salaries increased by $10,000. The lead Democratic sponsor of this new bill says another increase is needed due to inflation and to bring teachers to New Mexico. “It recognizes the professionalism in a career that we have to attract people and retain them,” said Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque).
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In 2022, the state raised teacher salaries by $10,000, bringing the base salaries based on vocational license to $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000 a year. Three years later, Rep. Garratt said that’s not enough to keep up with the cost of living. “And even though we raised the salaries several years ago, this deals with number one, inflation, which all educators feel. Number two it deals with the rising cost of insurance,” said Rep. Garratt.
In comparison to other states, Rep. Garratt said New Mexico’s teacher salaries fall short and it’s getting harder to attract them to the state. “At the moment, although our salaries are ranging above our surrounding states, they’re still below the national average, in California it’s more like $75-80,000. East Coast it’s much higher,” said Rep. Garratt.
The bill passed its first committee hearing unanimously. Rep. Garratt said she’s confident it will make it through this session because the money needed for the raise is already available in the budget. “I think it’s really important to pass this bill with the teacher raises because our teachers are raising up the future New Mexicans,” said Rep. Garratt.
The bill passed unanimously Tuesday evening and now heads to the House floor. If the bill were to pass, it could be rolled into the House Democrats’ nearly $11 billion proposed budget.