WATERLOO - The Board of Regents president will urge a pay freeze for employees at state schools next fiscal year.

David W. Miles of West Des Moines has sent a notice saying he will push for the board to adopt a resolution directing the heads of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa School for the Deaf, and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School to hold the salaries of its nonbargaining unit employees in fiscal year 2010.

Individual exceptions to this directive may be approved solely by the president of each university if, upon consultation with the board office, he or she determines that such salary adjustment is of great importance to the institution.

According to the press release, Miles said appropriation reductions were estimated to total $62 million and the institutions must consider deferring open positions, limiting or eliminating salary increases, implementing furloughs and eliminating positions.

"With the reality that our required spending reductions may now be as high as $75 million or more, it is apparent that we must cap salaries immediately," Miles said in the release. "All options to meet the necessary reductions remain on the table as we continue to respond to the State's financial need.

The next Board of Regents meeting is March 19.