Legislators dispute Thames's allocation of raise monies - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 15, 2006

Legislators dispute Thames's allocation of raise monies

Date: May 15, 2006

Angeline wrote:

According to Lamar County scuttlebutt, the local Republican reps and senators are interested in talking with Thames soon about the merit raise now in action. It appears that their understanding is that the state funded most of what is supposed to be a 5% raise for EVERYONE with the university having to pay the lesser part. Any raises above 5% are up to the university but 5% is the baseline upon which all raises are to be granted. If anyone else knows any local state reps (and even if you don't they are your reps), now would be a good time to talk to them as they are now aware of the problem and are forming a possible response (if any). Thames will have the opportunity to assure them that his plan is fine and does not skirt the law, but the reps need to hear from those of us who are impacted by the Thames scheme. I know in my department that the pool of money made available out of the dean's office only equaled about 4.1% of total faculty salaries for the department, thus making it impossible to give everyone a 5% raise even if we were allowed to by the Dome, which under this merit system we are not.

Now this will really make Shelby ill.

Date: May 15, 2006

i am puzzled about why legislators would think they funded 5% raises. they didn't. they got outed by meredith. they authorized 5% raises but funded 3.75%. this is no different than an unfunded federal mandate. if they want the universities to give 5% then fund the appropriate amount. this is the reason they were upset about the tuition increase. and i have no idea of the comment about "skirting the law." what law?

Date: May 16, 2006

SCM is correct: The legislature funded a 2.5% pay raise effective in July & another 2.5% effective in January, which is an actual 3.75% annual raise (2.5% + 1.25%). Meredith didn't "out" anybody, though. The legislature's been playing that game as long as I can remember...

Back to the chase: Does the legislation specify a 5% across the board raise or an average 5% raise?

Date: May 16, 2006

invictus--do legislators know the difference between the 2 options you ask about?

Date: May 16, 2006

stinky cheese man wrote:

invictus--do legislators know the difference between the 2 options you ask about?

They probably think they did award a 5% raise. (It was my impression during legislative session that Dr. Meredith promoted the whole concept of merit pay for IHL institutions...)