SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2001 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 637 School board salaries.

Introduced by: James H. Dillard II | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

School board salaries. Provides that any elected school board may pay each of its members an annual salary that is consistent with the salary procedures and no more than the salary limits provided for local governments in Article 1.1 (§ 15.2-1414.1 et seq.) of Chapter 14 of Title 15.2 or as provided by charter. The specific salary limits that are currently provided for most school boards in Virginia are eliminated for elected school boards; however, for appointed school boards the specific salary limits are retained. Title 15.2 sets specific salary caps for city councils and boards of supervisors by population brackets; town councils may set their own salary levels. This bill also provides that the annual amount a school board, whether elected or appointed, may pay its chairman will be increased from $1,100 to $2,000 and retains the restriction that no school board can be awarded a salary increase, unless a specific salary increase is approved by affirmative vote of that school board. The salary of the Northumberland County School Board is addressed in the second enactment because a referendum for an elected school board was just approved by the voters in November 2000; however, no election has taken place. The Northumberland school board is required to adhere to its current cap of $2,400 until such time as its members are elected and duly sworn into office as authorized by the referendum held in 2000.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

School board salaries. Eliminates the school board member salary limits specified for each school division, and provides instead that salaries for school board members representing counties, cities, and towns must be consistent with salary procedures and limits set by statute for the relevant local governing body or as set by charter. The salary limits for members of the consolidated school divisions of Williamsburg/James City County, Greensville County/Emporia, and Alleghany County/Clifton Forge must be consistent with the salary limits established for the relevant county. Title 15.2 sets specific salary caps for city councils and boards of supervisors by population brackets; town councils may set their own salary levels. This bill also provides that the annual amount a school board, whether elected or appointed, may pay its chairman will be increased from $1,100 to $2,000 and retains the restriction that no school board can be awarded a salary increase, unless a specific salary increase isapproved by affirmative vote of that school board.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

Line 8, enrolled, after pay

insert

, subject to the approval of the local governing body,

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V,§ 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I am vetoing House Bill 637.

Under current law, the General Assembly approves salary increases requested by local school board members. The Code of Virginia provides a specific salary cap for each locality in the Commonwealth. A legislative check on school board salaries is prudent because legislatures are responsible for both the taxation of the people and the expenditure of their tax dollars.

House Bill 637 would, for all practical purposes, remove the General Assembly's check on pay raises for school board members. House Bill 637 aligns school board salary caps with those already adopted (in the Code of Virginia or in charters) for boards of supervisors and city councils. Because in almost every locality the caps for boards of supervisors and city councils are substantially higher than the caps previously codified for school boards, House Bill 637 has the effect of authorizing large salary increases for school boards without any further legislative oversight.

For example, the salary cap for the Fairfax County School Board under current law is $12,500. House Bill 637 would increase the salary cap to $59,000, the cap for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Thus, the effect of House Bill 637 is to authorize members of the Fairfax County School Board to increase their salaries 452 percent without any further direct legislative approval. The result is similar in other localities, as well. I am confident the General Assembly did not intend to authorize such a substantial pay raise for public servants.

While I recognize the General Assembly's desire to remove itself from the salary approval process, I believe express legislative authorization should remain in place. A legislative body elected by the people and entrusted with the power of taxation and the stewardship of the people's hard-earned tax dollars should ultimately be responsible for the wise expenditure of those resources. The amendment I offered would have restored a check and balance system at the local level by vesting this oversight in local governing boards. Unfortunately, the notion of local legislative oversight was not accepted.

Additionally, I have noted that despite an increase of $1.1 billion -- or 34 percent -- in state funding for public schools over the past four years, several education groups continue to claim that they need more funds to provide quality educational services to our children. In light of these asserted needs, I believe we should be diverting tax dollars from the classroom to school board salaries at this time.

For these reasons, I am returning House Bill 637 without my signature.