Money set aside for Georgia teacher raises often used for other things

Gov. Nathan Deal and lawmakers this year promised 200,000 teachers and state employees that they’d get 3 percent raises, their first substantial increase since before the Great Recession.

While most state employees were expected to get increases, a Georgia Department of Education survey found that only 40 percent of school districts passed along the money as a salary hike.

About 40 percent more used at least some of the money on a one-time bonus — not necessarily 3 percent — for fear they couldn’t afford to pay for the raise in the future if the state didn’t continue funding it.

http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/money-set-aside-for-georgia-teacher-raises-often-u/nsw9M/