Nevada Gov. Lombardo Threatens Veto Over Charter Teacher Pay Dispute

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is pushing for equal pay raises for public charter school teachers, threatening to veto any education budget that excludes them. Despite support for increased funding for traditional public school teachers, the state legislature, controlled by Democrats, has been reluctant to extend similar raises to charter school staff, citing concerns over transparency and accountability. Legislative leaders have left the discussion open but have so far recommended approximately $250 million for educator pay raises excluding charter schools, prompting dissent from Republican lawmakers and Lombardo. The governor argues that charter schools are public schools and their teachers deserve equal pay, emphasizing parental choice and accountability in education funding. Meanwhile, the Nevada State Education Association criticized Lombardo for ignoring a commission's plan to fully fund education, stating his proposed increases are insufficient to keep up with inflation. The ongoing budget negotiations highlight a partisan struggle over education funding priorities and teacher compensation in Nevada.