http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS010504/601050377/1002

Pay-hike bill sails through House
Action supporting $2,000 raises for state, university workers over next two years now moves to the Senate


The Mississippi House on Wednesday pledged its support for $2,000 raises for state and university workers over the next two years, but the money is not guaranteed.

The House approved a $138 million promise to raise pay for more than 27,100 employees at state offices, universities and community and junior colleges. Elected officials are not included.

Most state workers have not received a raise since 2002....

...State Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith said the state's eight universities have been struggling recently to recruit and retain top-quality professors. "This is an excellent step in the right direction," he said.

Professors in Mississippi's university system make an average of $7,000 less per year than professors in other Southern states, Meredith has said.

Joe Sumrall, past chair of the faculty senate at the University of Mississippi, said sometimes the disparity is much greater than that average. He said he recently heard of a professor at Ole Miss who makes about $70,000 a year, while a professor in Kansas with the same type of position makes about $120,000....