North Dakota higher ed leaders say they are generally pleased with the governor’s proposed budget for the 2023-25 biennium with one exception…salaries.
Burgum has outlined pay hikes of 6% in the first year of the budget and 4% in year two.
During an NDUS Board meeting this week Dickinson State University President Stephen Easton said state support for planned salary increases will lead to higher tuition. He called that a major disaster. “With Minnesota putting a whole bunch of money in keeping its students in Minnesota and trying to take some of our students to Minnesota. With South Dakota looking to adopt a tuition freeze proposal statewide. That will cause (ND) campuses to substantially raise tuition.”
Chancellor Mark Hagerott says he had a meeting with OMB officials this week to make the case.
UND President Andy Armacost believes there may be some wiggle room after visiting with several legislators. “They had no idea that a pay raise…the tuition component isn’t covered by legislative appropriation.”
The proposed budget totals $683.1 million dollars.
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