AUGUSTA — A bill to increase Maine’s minimum teacher salary from $30,000 to $40,000 starting in 2020 is moving ahead in the Democratic-led Legislature.

The House voted 86-56 on party lines Tuesday in support of passing Democratic Sen. Rebecca Millet’s bill. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ two-year budget proposes funding the proposal, which faces more votes.

The bill also calls for more mentoring for teachers and says a teacher’s salary can’t stay at the minimum for over two years.

Mills’ budget would provide $10 million for the estimated cost of raising the minimum salary in the 2020-21 school year. The state would then cover 66 percent of salary increases in school year 2021-22 and 33 percent in 2022-23.

Taxpayers would shoulder the rest of costs, including schools that raise teacher salaries above $40,000.


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