Explanation:

- The sentence involves the state government discussing the feasibility of a financial decision, specifically about teacher salaries.

- Option 1: Stand

- "Stand" doesn't fit contextually. It implies enduring or tolerating, not a financial capacity.

- Option 2: Spare

- "Spare" implies having extra resources to allocate. It's about availability rather than capability or budget limits.

- Option 3: Afford

- "Afford" means having enough money to pay for something. It directly relates to the government’s financial ability to increase salaries. This fits perfectly with the context of managing expenses and budget constraints.

- Option 4: Get

- "Get" is too vague and unrelated to financial constraints in this context. It means obtaining something, which isn’t relevant to discussing funding abilities.