Mississippi auditor urges legislature to allocate 50% of education dollars to teachers
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White is urging the legislature to require that 50% of K-12 education dollars go to teacher salaries, saying the change would immediately raise pay for public school teachers when adjusted for cost of living.
White’s office said Mississippi’s average teacher salary is the third-lowest in the country when adjusted for cost of living. The auditor’s office also said that in 2023-24 about 43% of the state’s K-12 budget was spent on teacher salaries.
The auditor’s office has recommended the legislature adopt a rule that 50% of every education dollar be directed to teacher pay. White said he believes teachers deserve better and that increasing the share of the budget devoted to salaries would strengthen the state’s education system.
The proposal would require action by lawmakers. The allocation of education funds and the impact of any change on districts, staffing and classroom programs would be decided through the legislative process. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
