This study aims to investigate the professional perception of principals, concerning the political reform lärarlönelyftet of 2016. The purpose is to examine the area of tension between the political and the professional governance of the school, and provide principals an opportunity to evaluate the effects of their distribution based on their professional perceptions. To achieve a result, the empirical study is based on semi-structured interviews with three principals within Växjö Kommun, to reach their professional perceptions considering the purpose of this study. The collected data was analyzed through a thematic content analysis in relation to the theoretical framework of the study: division of responsibilities within the public control system.  The results implied that all three principals were positive towards the intention of lärarlönelyftet as an attempt to raise the salaries of the teaching profession. However, the implementation turned out to bring negative effects. The principals emphasize a stress to act on behalf of the government and become responsible for all decisions and aftermath that arises. The common problem of implementation, among political decisions into local executives, was a part of this reform as well, due to the principals’ limited prerequisites. Thus, the principals consider that a change in the implementation is necessary in a future similar reform as lärarlönelyftet.