CHEYENNE -- The Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee this morning voted not to increase the cost-of-living adjustment for the state's K-12 public schools for next year.

The committee members said they can come back in a year and decide whether to add an increase for the second year of the 2011-2012 biennium.

About 80 percent of any adjustment would go toward salaries.

The Wyoming Cost of Living Index is zero percent.

The employment cost-of-living index is 3.2 percent for the year, but only one-tenth of one percent for the past three months.

"We know the state is flatlined," said Sen. Phil Nicholas, R-Laramie, a committee co-chairman.

"The school districts can hold their breath for a year," and will not have to lay off employees, he added.