Ax vice chancellor position or raise taxes

Last week, Chancellor Bruce Leslie proposed to Faculty Senate leaders that they choose between a pay raise for themselves for the 2010-11 academic year and increased tuition for students.

Should they choose the raise, students will have to bear the burden. This is patently unfair but no worse than we have come to expect from Dr. Leslie.

The faculty members are not the bad guys, and students can see through the chicanery no matter how low an opinion this chancellor holds them in.

It's been years since a faculty raise reflected an equitable cost of living adjustment.

Last time faculty received a raise was 18 months ago.

And what about staff? What shameful choice will the chancellor put before Staff Council?

Funny, Leslie did not mention district officials. And he won't. A quick year-to-year comparison of district positions shows vice chancellors collecting a $9,000 increase in salary from 2008-09 to 2009-10.

This is actually a car allowance that didn't show in the previous budget because it was filed under non-salary benefit but now is rolled into their salary.

Don't we all wish we got a $750 a month car allowance for our travels?

This sort of proposition pits students against faculty when the real culprits share a Sheridan Street address. This is where cost-saving measures could be taken.

Last time the board raised tuition, trustees could have raised property taxes by half a penny instead.

Do you think homeowners would have felt that extra 0.5 cent per $100 valuation in property taxes?

It's certain students felt the tuition increase a whole lot more.

The faculty tries to teach doing what's right and treating others with respect while their bosses fail to provide role models.

They simply think of the easy way out. Leslie chose upsetting faculty who work for students instead of potentially upsetting Bexar County property owners (read: voters, who will surely be called upon to approve another bond issue soon).

Faculty Senate suggests losing a vice chancellor position to save the district money.

At a going rate of about a half-million dollars per vice chancellor or associate vice chancellor for salary, support staff, travel and supplies, it would be a good start toward affording a faculty raise and avoiding a tuition hike.

The district needs to find somewhere else to cut.

Just a hint: Charity begins at home.