A pending decision on whether to continue salary bonuses for Tennessee lottery CEO Rebecca Paul and her employees will be based on business principles rather than politician opinions, a key lottery board member said Monday.

Some state legislators have criticized the bonuses, which will total $772,000 for the lottery's startup year under current calculations. Of that, Paul will receive $350,000, doubling a base salary that is already the highest paid for any lottery CEO in the nation.

Four executives - all paid $180,000 per year - are to receive bonuses totaling $72,000 and another $350,000 will be spread among all other staff of the Tennessee lottery. The lottery has 174 employees.

The board of directors for the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. had been scheduled to vote at a meeting Monday on whether to continue a bonus system and, if so, at what level and for what employees. Deloitte and Touche, an accounting firm, is being paid $85,000 for consultation in developing a plan.

But Jim Hill, vice chairman of the board and chairman of a committee assigned to make a recommendation on bonuses, said the issue is proving "a lot more complex than we thought." The committee needs to work with the consultants at least another month before reaching a decision, he told fellow board members.