Senate panel approves record budget

A key Senate panel approved a record $23.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year Monday that includes 3 percent raises for most teachers and state employees and 10 percent for some others.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure in the next few days, setting up negotiations with the House, which has already passed its version of the budget. Lawmakers must approve a budget for fiscal 2017, which begins July 1, before the session ends later this month.

The Senate proposal includes more than $1.6 billion for road and bridge projects in the upcoming year, largely paid for through new taxes backed by lawmakers next year.

While most teachers, state employees, and school staffers will be eligible for 3 percent raises, public health nurses could get 10 percent more under the Senate budget. Public health officials warned senators recently that the system was losing many of its nurses because they are paid so much less than nurses in the private sector.

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