Twenty million dollars meant for teacher performance pay this school year isn't going anywhere right now.

The Utah State Board of Education decided unanimously Tuesday to delay giving the money to school districts until lawmakers are able to re-examine whether to spend the money elsewhere in light of imminent state budget cuts.

The money was supposed to go to districts before Dec. 1, but state education officials decided to hold onto the money until Tuesday to give the board the chance to make an official decision.

"[The idea] is to delay a decision and leave that bullet in the Legislature's armory for when it comes to cutting budgets," said Larry Shumway, state deputy superintendent.

Most districts weren't planning to distribute the money to teachers until the end of the school year, though some had planned midyear distributions, Shumway said. In all, 37 school districts and 50 charter schools had plans to take part in the program. Many teachers stand to make a few extra hundred dollars through the program.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, who sponsored the bill that created the program, has said he would like to see the money go to teachers this school year, but he agrees with the decision to delay distribution.

State board member Bill Colbert said he sees the action as no different than when the Utah Department of Transportation decided last month to put $3.9 billion for road projects on hold.

Board member Dixie Allen expressed some concern initially about "districts and teachers organizations suggesting we're undermining their process," but ultimately voted in favor of delaying distribution.

Kim Campbell, Utah Education Association president, said it makes sense to consider cutting the program, which she said was flawed from the start because it didn't align with other state education goals and was to last for one year only.

"It's unfortunate some teachers may have already done the work, so to speak, for this, but in light of the economic downturn it may be a prudent thing to look at [cutting] things that would hurt the least in the long run," Campbell said.