But the Utah Education Association prefers the WPU increase. As Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, a Holladay Democrat and schoolteacher, notes, a straight-up raise compensates young teachers who may essentially get a 10 percent raise, more than veterans, who may end up with a 5 percent raise.

"I think, justifiably, the more experienced teachers say we may be overlooked in favor of bringing in new teachers," she said.

Added Rep. Lou Shurtliff, D-Ogden, and a retired schoolteacher: "The WPU works. I don't think we want to undermine what a great model we have, and what a great funding we have with the WPU."

Dougall decried the way most school districts handled last year's raise. The Legislature inadvertently shortchanged the raise by $22.5 million, a problem an audit attributed to miscalculations by the State Office of Education and legislative staff in keeping up with the many versions of the bill. Legislators were adamant as soon as the shortfall was discovered that they would fill in the hole this session. But just 15 school districts — Dougall singled out Alpine — paid the whole raise up front, demonstrating they trusted lawmakers would follow through, he said.

Dougall unsuccessfully attempted to amend the substituted bill to make the State Office of Education pay for any shortfalls due to a miscount out of its own budget.

The issue really comes down to a policy decision, said Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George, and co-chairman of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

"If anyone on this committee thinks we're going to get out of this session without a WPU increase ... you're crazy," Last said. "So the idea is, if you want to help the bottom salaries, vote for this bill. Everything's going to work out in the session, so don't panic."

The bill calls for $88.2 million — enough for Social Security to be taken out of it so it's a true $2,500 salary increase, like last year.

Only there's one part that's not like last year.

Froerer's substitute removes principals from the pay list. Dougall plans to change that.

"I will fight to get them restored in this," Dougall said. "I believe school administrators should be compensated."

HB212's next stop: the full House.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com