TRAVERSE CITY — Trustees for Northwestern Michigan College unanimously approved a new employment contract for President Tim Nelson after removing part of his proposed compensation increase.
Nelson stood to receive a $16,765 increase in salary and benefits, including a $2,500 allowance for his spouse to attend business gatherings. Trustees removed the spousal allowance before approving the contract on Monday.
Nelson will earn a $168,300 annual salary, plus a $20,000 discretionary allowance he uses to make political campaign contributions, donations to nonprofit agencies and to pay to entertain higher education colleagues at conferences. Trustees increased that allowance from $10,000, where it's been since 2003.
Nelson earned a $102,000 annual salary when hired at the Traverse City community college in 2001. He received a favorable performance evaluation last month.
