Bonus Update: Finance and Administration Sources Confirm Bonus will NOT be Paid

"Seeing the state come up $550,000 a year for the UTHSC Chancellor and $305,000 a year for a TBR Chancellor just reinforces how little they seem to care that many of the people that actually clean and maintain the facilities, teach our children, and make sure the offices run smoothly live below the poverty line, and that many more earn far less than the prevailing wage for their positions."

Governor Bredesen had originally proposed an across the board 3% bonus for all state employees. The legislature ultimately passed a plan that tied the one-time expenditure to recurring revenues exceeding expectations by $50 million above initial budget projections. This plan came after heavy opposition to the proposed payment for public workers from Lt. Govenor and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey.