Teachers and other district staff members at Round Rock ISD will receive a 2 percent pay increase for the 2016-17 school year. The RRISD board adopted the pay increase during its May 19 board meeting after considering three pay increase proposals of 1.5, 2 or 3 percent. “Two percent … allows you to maintain that competitive nature and be better-than-average when you look at comparisons to other schools districts,” said Randy Staats, RRISD’s chief financial officer said. In April, Pflugerville ISD approved a 2 percent increase for its employees. Austin ISD employees have asked its board for a 4 percent increase, and its board is scheduled to consider pay increases in June. However, Staats said although AISD offers a higher starting salary, RRISD offers a better pay scale. Under the approved pay rate, employees would receive a 2 percent pay increase. For teachers, librarians and registered nurses, the starting salary will increase to $44,500, and eligible employees will receive a $1,040 general pay increase. Starting salary for counselors will increase to $49,400, and eligible employees will receive a $1,200 general pay increase. Other positions that are based on pay grades will receive a 2 percent increase from the midpoint of their pay range, according to board documents. The approved salary increases will cost the district nearly $5.9 million, according to board documents. That would bring the district’s deficit to about $7.9 million, although Staats told the board the district would be in a deficit no matter which salary increase it chose. In a May 3 board workshop the Texas Association of School Boards presented the RRISD board with a salary study and recommendations on how to align the district’s pay raises closer to market value to maintain competitive pay rates. This included options to implement a 1.5 or 2 percent pay increase. RRISD board members also asked district staffers to include a 3 percent increase for comparison.