Regents OK raises for top administrators

In a 6-3 vote Friday, regents approved giving cost-of-living and merit increases to campus presidents, the university system chancellor and other system executives.

Regents Howard Rosenberg, Shelley Berkley and David Phillips voted against the salary increases, calling them too inflated for Nevada taxpayers to support.

Chancellor Richard Jarvis defended the increases and said executive pay is not too high in the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Phillips said the university system should instead spend the money it awards administrators for merit pay on day care for students with young children.

"Everyone is making money off the students," Phillips said. "We've got to start directing money for these big salaries to students or the women's center or student services, anything that will help them with their education. Let's focus on getting the kids educated, not making money off them."

UNLV President Carol Harter received a 4.5 percent combined cost-of-living and merit pay increase, boosting her annual salary to $186,924 from $178,798. Richard Moore, president of the Community College of Southern Nevada, received a 5.1 percent pay increase to $145,413, up from $138,410. Joe Crowley, president of the University of Nevada, Reno, received a 4.5 percent increase to $202,269, up from $193,476. Jarvis received a 5.3 percent increase to $205,369, up from $195,000.

"These salaries are not out of line," Jarvis said.

The chancellor said an outside consultant this year will study pay issues across the University and Community College System of Nevada.

When that study is completed, Rosenberg said regents should discuss making changes. On Friday, he advocated putting salary caps in place, possibly at the $175,000 level, and initiating one-time bonuses for administrators rather than a merit pay system, where increases compound. He questioned whether administrators with car and housing allowances need cost-of-living increases.

Crowley, who said he doesn't care what he is paid, warned Rosenberg, a UNR art professor, to tread lightly with the topic of merit. If merit pay is taken away from administrators, he said, the Legislature might question whether the incentive program is needed for professors.

Regent Maddy Graves defended the chancellor's recommendations for this year's executive pay increases. Last week, he has said competitive salaries are needed to keep strong leaders in Nevada's higher education system.

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