LSU System employees will not receive merit increases next fiscal year because of pending budget cuts, LSU System President John Lombardi informed System units Monday. Chancellor Michael Martin told faculty and staff members in an e-mail sent Monday that the LSU System will not award merit increases to “classified, professional, or academic employees, regardless of the source of funds” for the 2009-10 fiscal year, which starts July 1. “We knew that this was going to be the case,” Martin said. The LSU System is expected to take a $102 million budget cut next fiscal year. Martin said while the measure is disappointing, the alternative — layoffs — is much worse. “It is a very daunting task, [but] I am willing to stand and defend the ‘no merit increases’ because the alternative is so gruesome,” Martin said. Chad Gothreaux, Staff Senate President-elect, said he is disappointed about the lack of merit increases next fiscal year, but is thankful there are no layoffs yet. —-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]