Gibbons launches certificate program for teacher salaries

AP Photo/Scott Sady

Gov. Jim Gibbons prepares to give his state of the state speech upstairs in the Capitol building in Carson City, Nev. on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010.

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 | 12:33 p.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons today announced details of his Education Gift Certificate program that he unveiled earlier this month in this State of the State address.

Residents can visit any DMV office to get a certificate or download it from the governor's Web site. Under the plan, money is donated for teacher salaries.

“The Education Gift Certificate is for anyone who wants to be able to help teachers by contributing directly to their salaries,” Gibbons said in a statement. “No administrative costs come from your contribution, and funds will be put directly into teacher salaries.”

Certificates are sent to the Nevada Department of Education and deposited into an Education Gift Fund. The money won't be used for any purpose other than funding teacher salaries, the governor said.

Nevada is facing a budget shortfall of nearly $900 million. Education comprises about 54 percent of the state's general fund, with the majority of that going toward salaries.