WSR 98-05-075

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION

Cite as: AGO 1998 No. 1

[January 20, 1998]

community colleges - offices and officers - salaries and wages - deferred compensation - Authority of community college Boards of Trustees to grant salary increases to college presidents in light of statutory restrictions.

1. When the term of employment of a community college president expires, and the college's Board of Trustees wishes to re-appoint the same president for an additional term, the Board may not increase the president's salary by any amount greater than permitted in the current budget pursuant to RCW 28B.50.140(3).

2. A community college Board of Trustees and the college president may mutually rescind an existing employment contract before it expires, and enter into a new contract with new duties and a different compensation, but increases in compensation are limited to those authorized in the current budget pursuant to RCW 28B.50.140(3).

3. Community college presidents are entitled to the deferred compensation benefits provided to other state employees; changes in these benefits are potentially subject to statutory limitations on increases in compensation.

The Honorable Robert J. Bavasi, Chair

Board of Trustees

Everett Community College

801 Wetmore Avenue