Conn. higher ed official gives up pay raise

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut higher education official has decided to forgo a $49,000 pay raise after a media report disclosed the increase this week.

Michael Meotti is executive vice president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education for the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, which includes 17 state universities and colleges but not the University of Connecticut.

The state comptroller's office says an increase Meotti received in his paycheck last week appeared to bump his annual salary up 27 percent to $232,000.

The Board of Regents announced Tuesday that Meotti is forgoing the raise. The Connecticut Mirror news website first reported the pay raise on Monday.

West Hartford state Sen. Beth Bye criticized the raise and asked the Board of Regents on Tuesday for information on other officials' salaries.