In keeping with the ‘chop from the top’ trend at universities around the country, New Mexico State Senator Eric Griego is looking to University of New Mexico’s President David Schmidly to make salary cuts among the 20 highest-earning salaries.

Griego introduced legislation termed “Good Fiscal Judgment for UNM Salaries,” which is now making its way through the legislative process.  The bill asks Schmidly and the Board of Regents to slim down the pay to the roughly 20 administrators that make $200,000 to $300,000 a year.

“In a bad economy where we’re asking students to pay more tuition, how do you justify two or three hundred thousand dollar salaries for 20 folks?” Griego said.

University spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said in an e-mail that Schmidly had been working with Regents to reduce administrative costs “long before Sen. Griego drafted his memorial.”

The Director of Government Relations at UNM, Marc Saavedra, presented data that shows UNM administrators account for six of the 100 highest-paid employees at the University. The remaining 91 employees are faculty — three of which are coaches.

Sen. Griego said his memorial was well received by his colleagues, and is encouraging the UNM community to ensure its passing.

“If they continue to keep the pressure on their legislators and the governor, I think it will pass. It’s all in their hands somewhat,” Griego said. “Unfortunately there’s a lot of political influence on the Board of Regents. The way our system works is you get to be a regent by giving lots of money. A lot of people are running up here and they don’t want to bite the hand that feeds them.”

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