The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Board of Education is committing to raising teacher pay in the district, but is doing so at their own risk.

The Board of Education has now officially locked themselves into raising the teacher supplement provided by the school system from 12 percent to 16 percent starting in August.

Teachers in North Carolina are given a base salary determined by the state, but individual school systems provide supplements .

“We are committing to that match increase without knowing what the outcome will be from the county commissioners,” board member Andrew Davidson said. “We are willing to accept the budgetary consequences of making that choice.”

The board is preparing to ask the Orange County Board of Commissioners for nearly $4.5 million dollars to increase their budget, $1.8 million going towards the raise in supplements.

Because the Board of Education approved the raise in their meeting Thursday, should the commissioners decide to reject the increase, the school system would still be responsible for paying the new salaries.

“It’s not something we take lightly,” board chairman James Barrett said. “But it’s also critically important for the recruitment period and just the time of the year we’re in given the budget cycle works, but we need teachers in August.”

The move comes after Wake County Schools raised its supplement to 16 percent last year.

Members of the board felt the school system would have problems competing for talent or retaining their teachers if they offered lower pay than Wake County.

“This is also the season where teachers who have been here with us for a couple of years will now have reassurance that their salary come August here will be at 16 percent supplement,” Barrett said.

The district will present its proposed budget to the commissioners April 26.

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