2008 Woodie Awards
Board approves budget that includes 4 percent raise for faculty, staff
Tax increase proposed to help pay for new budget.
By Regis L. Roberts
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: News
Originally published: 8/7/08 at 6:10 PM CSTLast update: 9/4/08 at 2:02 PM CST
The board of trustees, in an attempt to pay for the spending it has authorized, unanimously approved Tuesday an operating budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 of $272,444,485.
The board's latest expense is a 4 percent cost of living raise for faculty and staff.
James McLaughlin, vice chancellor for administration, said this raise is in line with what peer institutions are doing.
The raise is meant to offset the rising prices of gas and food and to keep the district competitive in finding employees, he said.
Chancellor Bruce Leslie said emphasis has been placed recently on the compensation study for staff but that it also was important to take care of faculty and those staff not affected by salary compression.
A 4 percent increase in salary seemed like a number that was not only affordable, but also was not an unreasonable figure, he said.
Paul Martinez, history instructor and Faculty Senate president at Northwest Vista College, addressed the board, saying that while faculty surveyed did request a larger increase, the 4 percent boost would help with the rising cost of living.
The salary increase accounts for $7.4 million of the budget, McLaughlin said.
To pay for these and other expenses the board has approved, the board will be proposing that the district increase its tax revenues to $85,441,750, bringing the tax rate to 0.135855 percent, up from last year's rate of 0.134455 percent.
Two public meetings will be conducted to present the tax increase proposal and give residents a chance to voice their opinions. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 in Room 101 of the Killen Community Education and Service Center, 201 W. Sheridan. The board of trustees will vote on the tax rate in a special meeting Sept. 4. The new tax rate will be seen when property taxes are due in January 2009, McLaughlin said.
District 1 trustee Bernard Weiner, being an elected representative of his district, said he had to justify to his constituents why he and the board were making decisions that would make them pay higher taxes.
The board's latest expense is a 4 percent cost of living raise for faculty and staff.
James McLaughlin, vice chancellor for administration, said this raise is in line with what peer institutions are doing.
The raise is meant to offset the rising prices of gas and food and to keep the district competitive in finding employees, he said.
Chancellor Bruce Leslie said emphasis has been placed recently on the compensation study for staff but that it also was important to take care of faculty and those staff not affected by salary compression.
A 4 percent increase in salary seemed like a number that was not only affordable, but also was not an unreasonable figure, he said.
Paul Martinez, history instructor and Faculty Senate president at Northwest Vista College, addressed the board, saying that while faculty surveyed did request a larger increase, the 4 percent boost would help with the rising cost of living.
The salary increase accounts for $7.4 million of the budget, McLaughlin said.
To pay for these and other expenses the board has approved, the board will be proposing that the district increase its tax revenues to $85,441,750, bringing the tax rate to 0.135855 percent, up from last year's rate of 0.134455 percent.
Two public meetings will be conducted to present the tax increase proposal and give residents a chance to voice their opinions. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 in Room 101 of the Killen Community Education and Service Center, 201 W. Sheridan. The board of trustees will vote on the tax rate in a special meeting Sept. 4. The new tax rate will be seen when property taxes are due in January 2009, McLaughlin said.
District 1 trustee Bernard Weiner, being an elected representative of his district, said he had to justify to his constituents why he and the board were making decisions that would make them pay higher taxes.
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