CA: UC spendthrifts

Riverside Press-Enterprise ^ | 3/25/06 | Editorial

[NormsRevenge]

The University of California's Board of Regents last week abrogated its oversight duties by granting near autonomy to the UC president for setting the salaries of top executives. The taxpayers -- and students who have faced tuition hikes for five straight years -- deserve better.

UC President Robert Dynes has gained the authority to grant up to 7.5 percent annual raises to most of the 400 executives throughout the 10-campus system who make between $117,000 and now, potentially, $887,000 a year.

An analysis in The Sacramento Bee showed that, for instance, the chief executive officer at UC Davis Medical Center, who earns $420,000 a year, will gain a new "pay scale" through this scheme that could bring an eventual maximum salary of $792,000. Many UC chancellors could also see their salaries nearly double in just a few years.

These new salary procedures replace the requirement that the Board of Regents approve any salary above $168,000 -- a system the board considered"burdensome."

The board's arrogance -- which it also displayed in a "so what?" defense last year after dishing out $871 million in secret perks and bonuses to UC executives in 2004 -- should deeply trouble students, taxpayers and legislators.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks to Gerald Parsky for the "leadership" as the Chgairman of the UC Board of Regents, it parallels his efforts at the Ca GOP.

Delivering more crap for California taxpayers to swallow..

[Logophile]

I thought the state government of California is suffering a budget crisis. At any rate, this editorial has given me yet another reason not to donate to the University of California when I get the annual call.

[calcowgirl]

I stopped giving to my alma mater when I found a bunch of union thugs appointed as trustees of the trust fund. The student on the phone was speechless when I told him why I wanted my name off their solicitation list.