Spring Break
Salary reductions a logical step in budget crunch
Brian Carroll
Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: Commentary
In a budget proposal submitted to the state legislature last week, Governor Rell removed a total of 9.2 percent (23.8 Million) from the UConn budget through 2010. Students, parents and UConn administration officials are preparing for the lowest level of state assistance in history and thus are looking for ways to trim the budget in any fashion.
In that same budget, one-third of UConn budget was salary and fringe benefits for employees. As a result, it is unfortunate to say that this is where some cost savings will appear. Moreover, to align staffing with current and future needs in business is a valid task of any manager. However, these managers make far more then any tenured faculty member.
President Hogan makes $550,000 dollars a year in addition to a house, a household staff, moving expenses (already provided) and three cars to use. The UConn community should see if President Hogan's salary and his senior staff pay could be trimmed during this economic recession to a size more suited to that of a state government manager for a period of two years, while providing for appropriate incentives or performance based compensation for these same individuals to stay on board while dealing with this economic slowdown.
The potential savings could be at least $350,000 dollars from all players involved given back to the university. Over a period of two years, this cost savings could net over $1.5 million dollars, or more if reduced benefits are included. A recent Daily Campus article reported that departments on campus are expected to turn in proposals for what to cut or even reduce in size to lower the impact of reduction of the state funds. The President's Office should also turn in a proposal for their share that considers reducing salaries.
For example, the Governor of Connecticut makes only $150,000. The commissioner of the DMV earns $128,000 annually in addition to a state funded vehicle. Advisors for the House Democrats have a salary ceiling of $120,000. Thus, I question a state job that pays $550,000 plus benefits in this economy. I would also argue that the news of such a salary might be a call for some outrage. Imagine the services on campus that could benefit from the redirected funds.
In that same budget, one-third of UConn budget was salary and fringe benefits for employees. As a result, it is unfortunate to say that this is where some cost savings will appear. Moreover, to align staffing with current and future needs in business is a valid task of any manager. However, these managers make far more then any tenured faculty member.
President Hogan makes $550,000 dollars a year in addition to a house, a household staff, moving expenses (already provided) and three cars to use. The UConn community should see if President Hogan's salary and his senior staff pay could be trimmed during this economic recession to a size more suited to that of a state government manager for a period of two years, while providing for appropriate incentives or performance based compensation for these same individuals to stay on board while dealing with this economic slowdown.
The potential savings could be at least $350,000 dollars from all players involved given back to the university. Over a period of two years, this cost savings could net over $1.5 million dollars, or more if reduced benefits are included. A recent Daily Campus article reported that departments on campus are expected to turn in proposals for what to cut or even reduce in size to lower the impact of reduction of the state funds. The President's Office should also turn in a proposal for their share that considers reducing salaries.
For example, the Governor of Connecticut makes only $150,000. The commissioner of the DMV earns $128,000 annually in addition to a state funded vehicle. Advisors for the House Democrats have a salary ceiling of $120,000. Thus, I question a state job that pays $550,000 plus benefits in this economy. I would also argue that the news of such a salary might be a call for some outrage. Imagine the services on campus that could benefit from the redirected funds.
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Boris
posted 2/10/09 @ 6:42 PM EST
Daily Crapus strikes again...
Would you please do a little research? Uconn's president's salary is below the median for a major public research university -- lemme tell ya, bri-bri -- ya get what ya pay for. (Continued…)
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