In this time of budget cuts, Utah school districts should not spend money on local teacher union leaders, says one lawmaker.

Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, is running a bill, HB381, that would prohibit school districts from paying local union association presidents' salaries. Now, districts such as Davis, Granite and Salt Lake pay their local Utah Education Association (UEA) presidents between $24,000 to $28,000 a year even though they are no longer teaching, and the union pays the rest of their salaries according to contract agreements.

"It's important as much money go to the classroom as possible," Herrod said. "Taxpayers need to know where their money is being spent."

But UEA president Kim Campbell said the bill is another attempt to take revenge on those who opposed school vouchers, such as the UEA.

Herrod worked on the bill with Parents for Choice in Education, a group that led the pro-voucher fight.

"I find it troubling … when we should be finding ways to deal with the economic crisis in the state, we're spending time on these seemingly vindictive measures," Campbell said. She said pro-voucher lawmakers are targeting the UEA and PTA, which also opposed vouchers, with bills this session.

Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, who championed vouchers, is sponsoring SB199, which would prohibit schools from working with parent groups unless they waive their dues upon request. Critics say it's a bill that could keep the PTA out of schools.

Bramble has said his bill has nothing to do with the defeat of school vouchers, and he's running it to give all parents and parent groups equal access to schools. Herrod said his bill, HB381, also has nothing to do with vouchers.

Judi Clark, executive director of Parents for Choice in Education, agrees with Herrod.

"If they're still interested in that issue, it's definitely one-sided," Clark said of the bill's opponents. "This is not about a private teachers union. It's about our kids and tax dollars collected for the purpose of educating children."

Local association presidents, however, say there's nothing wrong with receiving part of their salaries from districts. Susan Firmage, Davis Education Association president, said 95 percent of what she does as association president is for the district. Firmage makes more than $50,000 a year -- the same she made as a teacher -- half of which is paid by the district and half by the union.

Chris Williams, Davis district spokesman, said Firmage sits on at least eight district committees and attends district meetings. Firmage said she also spends a lot of time visiting schools and sits on the district's education foundation board.

"It really pays us huge dividends," Williams said. "It really helps us."

Jay Blain, Granite Education Association president, said he serves as a voice for teachers by also serving on district and state committees and works with individual teachers on issues. Blain makes about $56,000 a year, half of which is paid by the district and half by the union.

"Some of my time is spent doing union work and some of my time I spend doing district work," Blain said. "It benefits both much of the time."

Not all districts pay their local association presidents, who are often on release time from their normal teaching jobs, to lead local union groups. It's up to each local union association and district during contract negotiations whether or not to divide the salary.

Herrod's bill would prohibit paid association leaves and force unions to reimburse the district for any costs associated with the employee, such as benefits. Now, the law allows paid leave as long as the association leader directly affects education within the school district.

Herrod said his bill would still allow districts to pay association leaders salaries, but only if they took on other specific positions for the district in addition to union leadership.

"What I don't think is fair is to say, 'Just because I'm working for the union, it benefits the school,' " Herrod said.

Campbell said local association leaders help school districts by giving teachers -- who are too busy teaching during the day to attend decision-making meetings -- a voice.

"If there isn't an organizing voice there isn't a voice at all," Campbell said. "All you have is chaos and squeaky wheels."

The bill was sent to the House on Monday to await a hearing, likely in committee.