University officials defend budget share

CARSON CITY -- University officials insisted Thursday they're following the Legislature's instructions in sweetening paychecks of campus administrators with merit bonuses.

But Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, challenged the officials' interpretation. And Assembly Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, demanded an administrative pay history for the last 10 years.

More than $250,000 in merit pay was recently doled out to administrators, and Richard Jarvis, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, said the program was applied fairly.

Jarvis added he's aware of no prohibition on such raises for higher-ups in the system, adding, "We are consistent with what the Legislature asked."

But Giunchigliani, during a money committee review of the university system budget, said the Legislature's intent was being ignored.

"We need to be even more clear," she said. "The deans and above were not to receive anything from the merit pool. I would hope the subcommittee would take this up again this session."

Using merit pay to reward administrators is divisive and creates ill will on college campuses, she added.

Joe Crowley, president of the University of Nevada, Reno, echoed Jarvis, saying bonuses for administrators aren't from a merit pool fund for professors. Salary savings have been identified as the source of the administrators' bonuses.

"We have been told not to use merit pool money for administrators and we never have - not one penny in 14 years," he said. "I cannot understand why a Legislature would want to limit meritorious pay."

University of Nevada, Las Vegas records for the 1998-99 academic year show that 33 of the top 40 UNLV administrators - 83 percent - got merit pay increases.

The raises, averaging $3,000 a year, were in addition to cost-of-living increases for presidents, vice presidents, associate vice presidents, deans and associate deans.

By contrast, 41 percent of UNLV's business college professors got merit increases averaging $3,500, and 67 percent of hotel administration professors received merit increases averaging $2,100.

The educators met with the legislators to defend their share of Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposed $1.12 billion K-12 and higher education budget.

Guinn's proposal covers a 2 percent growth in university and community college enrollment, but university officials testified they need more than that to keep up with a growth rate of about 6 percent.

Jarvis profusely thanked the lawmakers for their past support, and asked to be considered for any additional funds that are available.

Senate Finance Chairman Bill Raggio, R-Reno, advised Jarvis and the campus presidents who testified that the Legislature was bound to work within the projections of the Economic Forum, which has estimated a $140.7 million shortfall.

"Everyone is saying that if the Economic Forum comes back with their report in May and say differently, they'd like to be considered. I'd remind you that there's a long line of people waiting for that event," he said.

College officials are asking for a lump-sum appropriation by campus and more flexibility in how they spend their share of the budget.

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