Manhattan ? Budget problems mean most faculty and staff at Kansas State University will not receive merit pay raises for the second year in a row.

Provost April Mason says with a $23 million shortfall in general use funds in the last year, it was not the right time for the pay increase.

She says the university would have had to cut more programs or raise tuition even more than it has requested to pay the raises.

The Manhattan Mercury reports that Faculty Senate president Betsy Cauble says the faculty isn’t happy about not receiving the raises, but understands the reasons for it.

Two weeks ago, Kansas State officials asked the Board of Regents for a 7.4 percent increase in tuition and fees. The regents are expected to vote on the proposals in June.