Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed a bill that would have raised the minimum salary for full-time public school teachers to $40,000 within five years.
Legislators approved the bill in May, saying it would help attract and keep more teachers.
Rauner said he vetoed the bill last week because minimum pay is an inefficient way to compensate teachers and is an unfunded mandate on districts. The Republican governor said districts should consider steps such as merit pay and extra money for teachers in difficult-to-staff schools or subjects.
State law lists the minimum salary for a teacher at $9,000, which took effect in July 1980.
