At least 112 public employees working directly for Gov. Doug Ducey have seen their pay increase by amounts ranging from a few thousand dollars to $73,500 since the Republican took office, records compiled by The Arizona Republic show.

The average increase for those Ducey staffers or agency executives was $16,668, but more than one-third of them received pay hikes in excess of the average. Most of the largest pay raises went to those who received a promotion or change in job title.

The biggest increase of $73,500 went to Economic Security Director Michael Trailor, who was promoted from the Arizona Department of Housing.

READ MORE:Ducey awards hefty pay raises to his staff

The total amount of raises amounted to nearly $1.9 million, records show.

The Republic previously reported that Ducey, who this year offered teachers raises of less than 1 percent because of the state's austere budget, gave 44 of his staff members raises of up to 20 percent each over the past 2½ years.

The Arizona Education Association has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference Friday at the Capitol to call on Ducey to give teachers a 20 percent raise.

Agency directors and deputy directors also received large pay increases. The bulk of state employees have not had across-the-board hikes in recent years, though the average pay for state workers has increased 4.2 percent, to $45,981, since Ducey took office because of merit raises to select workers.

Two Ducey staffers and six agency executives received raises in excess of what a typical state worker makes in a year.

Some Arizonans, including lifelong Republicans, reacted to The Republic's initial report by telling the newspaper they were furious with Ducey, a former Cold Stone Creamery executive.

"I'm sorry I voted for him," said Lucille Sebastiano, an 80-year-old Ahwatukee resident. "Let him go sell ice cream. I thought he was a man we needed."

Ducey's spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, has defended the raises, saying the governor wants the best people who will do the best work for taxpayers.

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