Topeka ? State university chiefs probably will receive no salary increase this year because of Kansas’ budget problems, higher education officials said Wednesday.

The Kansas Board of Regents today will complete its annual evaluations of the six state university leaders, including Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway. Traditionally this is when the regents increase salaries of the chief executives.

	Here’s a look at the annual salaries for the current fiscal year for the chief executives of the six state universities. Because of budget problems, regents members say the salaries probably will stay the same for the fiscal year that starts Monday.KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, $219,420.Kansas State University President Jon Wefald, $209,820.Wichita State University President Don Beggs, $183,652.Fort Hays State University President Ed Hammond, $158,270.Emporia State University President Kay Schallenkamp, $147,639.Pittsburg State University President Tom Bryant, $145,270.Source: Kansas Board of Regents

But because of the state’s shrinking revenue and continuing budget problems, there probably will be no salary increases offered this year, several regents said.

“It sure looks that way. It’s not fair,” said Regent Fred Kerr of Pratt, who is chairman of the committee conducting the performance evaluations.

The Kansas Legislature recently ended a marathon session in which it kept higher-education funding flat. University officials say the Legislature’s action amounted to a cut because the funding levels failed to cover increased costs and mandated expenses.

In response, schools have cut spending. KU has frozen faculty and staff salaries, laid off employees and trimmed some programs.

Regent Lew Ferguson of Topeka said it would be unfair to give university chiefs a pay raise while all other employees’ salaries were frozen and students were facing significant tuition increases, including a proposed 25.2 percent increase at KU.

Ferguson said several university leaders, including Hemenway, had contacted regents and told them they didn’t want salary increases because of the budget problems.

Giving a raise at this time would create more problems for the executives, regents said.

Hemenway is the highest-paid chief executive of the six regents universities, making $219,420 per year. Last year, he received a 5.75 percent pay raise.