AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Salaries of some Texas State University
System leaders are drawing scrutiny after raises of more than 10
percent during tight budget times.

Experts say the state's revenue shortfall for the next two-year
budget will be at least $15 billion.

The Austin American-Statesman reported, for its Tuesday
editions, that Texas State System faculty and staffers did not get
raises for the 2011 budget year.

Raises of nearly 23 percent in 2010 and 19 percent in 2011 went
to Roland Smith, vice chancellor for finance, and brought his
annual salary to nearly $279,000.

University spokesman Mike Wintemute says regents concluded that
the system needed to raise pay to be competitive in retaining and
recruiting executives.

A higher education watchdog, George Reamy, calls the raises
"incredibly insensitive" amid the projected budget shortfall.

To put this into perspective, in 2010 A&M University Systems Chancellor Mike McKinney made $533,816 annually.

To see what some of the highest paid state employees make, click on the links below.