Board turns down raises for university presidents

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 10:53 a.m.

RENO -- Regents voted down any raises today for the presidents of the University and Community College System of Nevada, saying the state was facing tough economic times.

Five presidents were recommended for raises ranging from 2 1/2 percent to 5 percent. They did not receive a merit or a cost of living increase last year.

In pushing to freeze the salaries, Regent Mark Alden of Las Vegas said, "We face a tough budget session. The line has to be drawn in the sand.

"Administrators come and go. The faculty is here for a long time," he said. The faculty, he said, needs its pay increased.

The recommendation before the board called for UNLV President Carol Harter to receive a 3 percent raise to $192,532. Presidents John Richardson at the Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno and Ronald Remington at Great Basin College in Elko were both recommended for 5 percent. Richardson would have gone to $154,109 and Remington to $141,194.

There were recommended 2 1/2 percent pay raises for President Carol Lucy at Western Nevada Community College in Carson City to $133,250 and President Stephen Wells at the Desert Research Institute to $141,194.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas sought to boost the pay raise of Harter to 5 percent. He said there should be consistency in the raises. And he added Harter has "made great strides at UNLV."

But the regents voted that amendment down. And then by a vote of 9-1 rejected any pay raises for all presidents. The lone vote for raises came from Regent Dave Phillips of Las Vegas.

But the board agreed to pay increases for some top staff. University Counsel Tom Ray will get a 5 percent raise to $116,395; Chief Administrative Officer Suzanne Ernst will receive a 5 percent increase to $105,559; Ron Latimer, who is director of the University Press, goes up 4 percent to $74,275 and Van Weddle, head of computing services will receive a 10 percent raise to $123,610. Weddle however is giving up a $12,000 housing allowance.