The Perry Education Association has made their initial salary proposal for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.

They are asking for a base salary increase of 5.09%, or $1,200 per person.

If approved by the Perry School Board, the total cost to the district would be $510,682 which includes a 2.26% increase in health insurance, along with Federal Insurance Contributions Act and Iowa Public Employees Retirement System costs.

According to the Association, the average salary in the district decreased by about $5,000 last year due to retirements or staff that left the district.  They also say Perry teachers were paid about $9,000 less than the state average.

“In order to attract and retain quality educators to our district, we believe we need to become competitive with our salaries.  Increasing the base will help accomplish that goal” says the proposal.

The Association says the district’s unspent authorized budget from the 2013 fiscal year compared to the 2014 fiscal year gives them a net gain of $726,295, which would more than cover the pay increase.

In addition, the Association says Perry is in the top 60 districts in the state with a preliminary fund balance of $7,447,583.  This proposed increase is equal to just 6.8 percent of that unspent balance.

“In order for the legislature to approve an appropriate allowable growth, school districts need to be spending the money that is given to them by our state legislature.  Having a large unspent balance does not encourage our politicians to continue to pour financial resources into Iowa Schools” says the association.

The School Board will review this proposal and vote whether to accept it or make a counter offer.  Last year, the Perry Board of Education approved a 4.5 percent increase.