Board turns down raises for university presidents

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

Five presidents were recommended for raises ranging from 2 percent to 5 percent. They didn't get 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.''

The vote against the raises was 9-1, with Regent Dave Phillips casting the lone vote for higher pay.

The recommendation that went to the regents called for UNLV President Carol Harter to get 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 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.

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. But Weddle is giving up a $12,000 housing allowance.