Thanks to voters, Austin teachers and district staff will get a 3 percent pay raise.

Austin Independent School District Proposition 1 passed Tuesday night.

Its passage will mean nearly a 4 percent increase in AISD's maintenance and operations tax rate.

That will cover the 3 percent pay raise, health care insurance and an increase in worker's compensation for AISD staff.

That amounts to about $6.50 per month for a home valued at $200,000.

AISD officials said the only way the city can continue to recruit and retain the best educators is to stay salary competitive with other Central Texas School districts.

"Obviously with this raise coming in the December pay check, I believe this will be something our teachers will welcome and certainly all of our employees needed," AISD Superintendent Pat Forgione said. "But, I'm just thankful that the voters really saw this as an investment."

Returns show almost 59 percent of voters supported Proposition 1, with 41 voting against it.