A University of Texas medical campus in its last fiscal year gave more than $20 million in financial incentives to faculty, executives and others.
The incentives granted to employees of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston were based on performance and productivity.
Campus administrators say the incentives are necessary to attract and retain top talent in a competitive industry.
The highest payment went to Dr. Kelly Carmichael, an associate professor who received nearly $233,000 on top of his $415,000 salary. Texas law doesn't allow state agencies to provide bonuses to employees. But it does allow for incentives, which are tied to meeting benchmarks and other goals.
The $20 million in incentives comprised 1 percent of the medical branch's $2 billion budget.
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Information from: The Galveston County Daily News, http://www.galvnews.com
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