The Latest: Mississippi lawmakers pass $1,500 teacher raise

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on teacher pay and the Mississippi budget (all times local):

11:57 a.m.

Mississippi lawmakers have given final approval for a $1,500 pay raise for teachers beginning July 1.

The House voted 88-27 to approve changes to the pay schedule for teachers, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant for his approval or veto.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison says the increase is expected to cost about $58 million, less than the $76 million previously estimated.

House and Senate negotiators reached the deal on Senate Bill 2770 on Wednesday. The Senate considered it first thing Thursday, passing it 46-2.

Both the House and the Senate rejected attempts by Democrats to seek a higher raise. The minority party wanted to restart negotiations, seeking a pair of $2,000 increases over two years.

The raise is higher than the pair of $500 increases over two years that Republican leaders initially proposed.

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10 a.m.

Mississippi lawmakers are moving toward a $1,500 pay raise for teachers beginning July 1.

The state Senate on Thursday voted 46-2 to approve the changes to the pay schedule for teachers starting July 1. Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison says the increase is expected to cost about $58 million.

House and Senate negotiators reached the deal on Senate Bill 2770 Wednesday after days of negotiations. The House must also approve the agreement.

The raise is higher than the pair of $500 increases over two years that Republican leaders had initially proposed.

On a 28-19 vote, the Senate rejected an attempt by Senate Democratic Minority Leader Derrick Simmons of Greenville to seek a higher pay raise. Simmons wanted to restart negotiations for a pair of $2,000 increases over two years.