Senate Fields Complaints from Teachers About Promised Bonus and Raise

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) All full-time public school teachers in Utah should have receive at least part of their $2,500 raise by now. But dozens have contacted state lawmakers complaining they have yet to see the money. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:

 

More than 80 public school teachers have complained to the Utah State Senate that they've not received the $2,500 raise lawmakers promised. Senate President John Valentine says school districts already have the money and have no excuse not to forward it along in teacher paychecks.

State Office of Education Finance Director Larry Newton says some districts have opted to pay the raise in smaller increments until the legislature allocates the additional money it will take to give the full raise. Valentine says that's guaranteed to happen in the first 10 days of the session. To Newton's knowledge no school district is withholding the raises entirely.

Still Valentine says a lot of teachers are telling a different story. And so the Utah Senate is playing referee, collecting complaints on its www.senatesite.com blog.

Valentine says some teachers may simply be confused because taxes, social security and retirement are withheld from their bonus and the $1,000 raise they should receive by December 31st. He adds that districts that don't pay promptly or in full could find themselves under extra scrutiny - and even subject to withheld funds - from the Legislature.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2009 KCPW