AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Salaries of some Texas State University System leaders are drawing scrutiny after raises of more than 10 percent during tight budget times.
Experts say the state's revenue shortfall for the next two-year budget will be at least $15 billion.
The Austin American-Statesman reported, for its Tuesday editions, that Texas State System faculty and staffers did not get raises for the 2011 budget year.
Raises of nearly 23 percent in 2010 and 19 percent in 2011 went to Roland Smith, vice chancellor for finance, and brought his annual salary to nearly $279,000.
University spokesman Mike Wintemute says regents concluded that the system needed to raise pay to be competitive in retaining and recruiting executives.
A higher education watchdog, George Reamy, calls the raises "incredibly insensitive" amid the projected budget shortfall.
We checked with Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University to find out if their presidents received a pay raise. Officials with WTAMU said President Dr. J. Patrick O'Brien did not receive a raise.
Dr. Paul Matney president of Amarillo College did receive a two percent raise as did all employees of the college.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
