Legislative Update . He said it is evident that higher education is discretionary in the budget process. Public education employees are being offered a 4 percent increase in salaries plus benefits to equal 5.5 percent compensation, while higher education is being offered a 4 percent increase and nothing for benefits. Higher education is being treated considerably worse than all other state employees.
Higher education needs a champion.
He said Mel Brown and Marty Stephens told him the salary issue isn't finished yet, that they still have some money, and that they plan to look at the package again. He plans to meet with John Valentine and Jeff Alexander at the Regents meeting tomorrow. Since the Regents will want the institutions to be the same, it will probably result in a 4 percent increase across the system. President Romesburg commented that some Regents do not fully understand the issues, especially since they meet only one or two days a month. President Romesburg said the good news is that they did fund the equity package across the system, all access, and all O and M. Council of Presidents Meeting Report.