The Board of Governors praised University President Julio León to the tune of $153,480.

León’s contract was extended three years following an annual evaluation meeting conducted in executive session June 19.

The Board reviews the progress of the University and the performance of the president. León’s salary was set last year at $145,000.

Board members were unified in their praise of León.

“We all applaud Dr. León for his foresight and hard work,” said Dr. Charles McGinty, Board of Governors president. “As financial challenges have continued, Dr. León has helped keep the college on a sound financial footing and worked toward university status. We are very pleased with the performance of Dr. León.”

León’s salary had been adjusted down from a higher figure.

“At my last evaluation, the Board had decided on a higher figure, but when we had the readjustment because of additional withholdings, the Board lowered that figure,” León said.

The original figure was $155,600 prior to the announcement of additional budget withholdings.

When the state budget cuts and withholdings caused faculty salaries to be reduced below projected figures, León requested his salary be reduced also, McGinty said.

“He certainly deserved more, as our faculty and staff do,” McGinty said.

The Board usually sets the University budget in March. Due to the uncertainty in the state budget, the board had to delay the University’s budget.

“When the governor decided after we set the budget to withhold the increase, we came up short on money and had to go back and look at expenses, most of which are in payroll,” McGinty said.

When León requested the Board to reduce his salary, they did not want to, said Ron Mitchell, attorney for the university.

León is the longest tenured and lowest paid university president in the state, McGinty said.