CHARLOTTE, N.C. --The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board voted Tuesday night to give 3 percent raises to all employees.
But it is not a done deal until the state budget is passed.
"It all intertwines," said Hugh Hattabaugh, who was the acting Superintendent when the CMS budget was hammered out.
That budget included the $26 million raise package for the 18,000 CMS employees who have not had raises because of the recession.
But there are still some obstacles to overcome.
Board member Eric Davis asked, "What happens if the county doesn't release the funds?"
He was referring to the $18.5 million the County Commission voted to withhold from the CMS budget until the Commission was satisfied that the money would go to teacher raises.
Hattabaugh said that would be a serious blow.
"We'd be put at definitely a risk to proceed," he said.
But the biggest concern is the future of the state budget.
Governor Perdue has until Sunday to sign the budget and has already indicated she is not happy with the amount the legislature wants to allocate for education.
Said Davis, "Because if she vetoes it, all bets are off."
So with fingers crossed the board voted unanimously to pass the teacher pay raise provision.
"If this comes to fruition," said Hattabaugh, "we feel we have a definite plan that we can carry forward and meet all the requirements and then some," Hattabaugh said.
