UNM considers upping tuition to fund pay raises

ALBUQUERQUE — University of New Mexico officials said they might need to increase tuition to fund a 4 percent pay raise for employees.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that state Higher Education Secretary Kate O’Neill sent a letter to universities and colleges across the state, instructing them to give employees a 4 percent raise.

The board of the University of New Mexico was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a budget that would have bumped up employee pay by 2 percent. The board postponed the vote so officials could address the letter.

University President Garnett Stokes told the board that the 4 percent raise would cost about $16.6 million because of the higher salaries and related benefits.

She said funding the raise would likely require a tuition increase.