WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT) –Increases in education funding, and how much of it funnels down to teacher salaries will be an issue that’s talked about in the South Dakota legislative session that begins next week.

Governor Kristi Noem says since she took office, education funding has gone up more than 26 percent. But school districts are not steering all of that to teacher salaries.

The governor acknowledged there are plenty of educational expenses beyond what teachers take home, and hinted some administrative salaries may be getting a little top heavy.

The latest data shows South Dakota near the bottom in teacher salaries, ranking ahead of only West Virginia and Mississippi.

The legislative session begins January 9th.