Zingg gets raise at Tuesday trustees meeting

Enterprise-Record 1/24/07

By Melissa Daugherty

Chico State University President Paul Zingg was among 23 campus presidents to draw a 4 percent pay raise Tuesday afternoon, with its approval by the California State University Board of Trustees.

Chancellor Charles Reed, and four other CSU executives, also received the increase, which is retroactive to July 1. The move takes Reed's and Zingg's annual salaries to $377,000 and $247,000, respectively.

Tuesday's approval came despite warnings from trustee and Lt. Governor John Garamendi, who told the board it was bad timing for an increase. Garamendi cited an impending 10 percent increase in student fees, and unresolved contract negotiations with the California Faculty Association. He recommended delaying a decision.

Those in favor of the pay hike, including the chancellor, said the increase is the exact amount recommended for faculty in the first year of the CSU's proposed contract with the union. Supporters also said the raise does not come close to closing what they contend is a 44 percent gap in pay between executives at the CSU and those at peer institutions.

"This 4 percent will not make any headway on market adjustment," Reed said.