For teachers, spring fever brings more than baseball season and a weeklong break. It's time to start thinking about salary and contract negotiations for the next school year.

Much will hinge on the money sent down from Tallahassee at the end of the legislative session. But to get the conversation rolling, Hillsborough has looked at what it could cost to give raises of 1, 2, and 3 percent next year. For teachers alone, the cost totals to $6.8 million, $13.6 million and $20.3 million, respectively.

Adding other employees into the mix, an across-the-board raise of 3 percent would cost $27.3 million.

Just fodder for thought – for now.

- Letitia Stein, Hillsborough County education reporter