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* He’s back…
From: Richard Goldberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs
To: Members of the General Assembly
Date: January 13, 2016
Re: Illinois Public Universities Need Reform BadlyOver the last 14 years, Illinois public universities raised tuition rates by more than 200%, generating $1.5 billion in new revenue for their Income Funds. Unfortunately, the General Assembly has no control over each university’s Income Fund, no control over the spending that occurs within these funds, nor does it have the information needed to determine how fiscally responsible Illinois universities are with Income Fund revenue.
We encourage members of both sides of the aisle to ask Illinois public universities what reforms they are willing to adopt to cut waste, root out cronyism, improve outcomes and achieve savings of taxpayers money (e.g. cutting waste, procurement reform, pension reform, workers’ compensation reform).
• Administrative Staff: According to the Senate Democratic Caucus’ “Investigative Report” on Executive Compensation at Illinois Higher Education Institutions: From 2004 to 2010, administrative staff at Illinois’ public universities increased 31.1%, while part-time and full- time students increased a mere 2.3%. In FY11, the average student-to-administrator ratio for the nine universities was approximately 45 students for every one administrator. More than 1,500 university employees make more than the statutory salary set for the Governor.
• Executive Compensation: According to the same report, university executive compensation includes a base salary, pension and health insurance, and in many cases, it includes some or all of the following: car and driver services, memberships to multiple country clubs and social organizations, performance bonuses, annuities, and retirement enhancements.
• Golden Parachutes: Even when university leaders are forced to resign for misconduct, they are often treated to lavish golden parachutes. Illinois State gave fired President Timothy Flanagan $480,418 in severance after just 7 months on the job. The University of Illinois attempted to pay fired Chancellor Phyllis Wise $400,000 in severance until public outcry led to a reversal.
• Private Jets: According to The Southern, over the past two years, Southern Illinois University administrators spent more than $180,000 on in-house chartered airplane flights. Just last year, SIU spent $1,745.60 to fly legislators to a hearing opposing the Governor’s proposed budget savings.
• Board Meetings: Between 2008 and 2014, spending on university Board meetings increased by nearly 70%. In 2014, the University of Illinois’ Board met 8 times for a total cost of $166,100.
• Tuition and Fee Waivers: Despite increases in tuition costs, public universities increased the amount of money spent on discretionary tuition and fee waivers. In FY14, for example, Graduate tuition and fee waivers for all public universities totaled $341.1 million – close to the amount of savings proposed in the Governor’s FY16 budget.
• Employee Pensions and Health Care: In FY15, taxpayers paid $1.5 billion to support the State University Retirement System (SURS) on behalf of higher education employees. In the past decade, the annual payment the state makes to SURS has increased by $1.3 billion or 466.8%. Meanwhile, the state picks up the tab for 85% of the public universities and community colleges’ contributions to Group Health Insurance (GHI). In FY14, that cost totaled $685 million; in FY15, that cost is expected to rise to $700 million or more.
• Using State Funds To Lobby The State: Six Illinois public universities employ a combined eight lobbying firms to lobby state government. In the past, Eastern Illinois University paid Senator Dick Durbin’s wife $627,000 over a period of 13 years to lobby on the University’s behalf.
As you can see, there is a need for a healthy and high-minded debate on how the university system spends the money the state provides and, more importantly, how it spends the money Illinois families are paying in tuition.
As you know, appropriating hundreds of millions of dollars in General Revenue Funds for MAP or general higher education without finding offsets – whether in the form of spending reductions or cost-saving reforms – could trigger a cash flow crisis in Illinois.
Our office stands ready to work with any member of the General Assembly who wants to find a sensible and responsible way to fund MAP and higher education without triggering a cash flow crisis by tying such funding to spending reductions in other areas of GRF or one of many cost-saving reforms.
We discussed that Senate Democratic investigative report, which was a doozy.
The SIU airplane stuff is mostly (but not all) about getting flight time for aviation students. And, of course, the Prince of Snarkness couldn’t help himself from taking a shot at Durbin for his recent comments about the governor.
* The rest of this is pretty much on-point, however, and it’s good to see they’re willing to work on finding a way to fund MAP Grants.
A few Senate Democrats held a press conference today to discuss the importance of those grants, so maybe people can start moving forward.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:16 pm
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=== Using State Funds To Lobby The State ===
If this is bad, shouldn’t we fire Goldberg?
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:23 pm
===Senator Dick Durbin’s wife $627,000 over a period of 13 years to lobby on the University’s behalf. ===
Welp, Goldberg being Goldberg.
Equally measured frustration and “admiration”
“Admiration”?
The man doesn’t disappoint.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:26 pm
90% of this memo could have come from John Filan during the years the Dems had the Gov’s office. Despite the efforts of both parties there is still a lot of room for improvement in higher ed costs. This political war has been eating everything and maybe it would eat progress on higher ed cost containment but I’d be willing to bet there are people on both sides of the aisle willing to work on much of what is outlined in this memo, and it would be work worth doing.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:28 pm
The criticism of the Universities’ spending habits is legit, as the Senate Dems have been pointing out. But I don’t think MAP should be part of the debate. MAP is direct aid to students who have financial hardships that they can use at any school the state, not just public universities. If Rauner wants to trade funding for higher Ed reform it should be tied to the public universities’ annual appropriation, not to student grants.
Comment by Anon404 Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:33 pm
GRRRRR. Well, here are all the problems. GRRRR, if any legislator has any idea how to fix them, GRRRR, we’d sure like to know.
===there is a need for a healthy and high-minded debate===
I agree. And I am actually quite impressed with Goldberg’s level of understanding exactly what the problems are. Now it is time to stop pretending this is a campaign, and that someone else is actually in-charge of this embarrassment known as Illinois government and, you know, propose concrete solutions to the problems. But I’m sure that is being done, and then you can insert tiny little labor-busting poison pills into it. Then we can all throw our hands up and say, “yep, pretty much what I thought,” and we’ll still be exactly where we are. Thanks Richard.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:34 pm
So we have a new hostage–MAP grants. Reform or the MAP grants dont get funded.
Where is the IBHE in all this? Arent they supposed to provide analysis of programs and trends, and general oversight?
What is the change in share of higher ed costs provided by tuition vs state funds and other sources, over time?
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:34 pm
Why does the GA need to do Goldberg’s homework? Are these guys opposed to actual work?
Meet with the universities, find some things to cut, present the deal to the legislators.
Of course, it’s much easier to sit back and draft memos.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:35 pm
Well timed….can’t get any help with the ‘genda so The SuperStars try to hold the Us and Community Colleges hostage. We believe he told the CNG that he wanted “help” with sellin’ the JRTC. Guessin’ “Help” means skippin’ all procurement laws so IL can sell to a anonymous REIT/hedge fund parlay.
SenDs did not seem aware of the hostage situation and that is probably The SuperStars rolled out the hostage note. Very Smart.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:36 pm
@ - The Captain -
Actually, about 70% of this memo was written by the Senate Dem staff. Goldberg did some cutting and pasting.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:37 pm
Mr Goldberg failed to include these kind of state appropriation figures (taken from an Illinois regional state university’s state appropriations):
FY 2002 State Appropriation: $64.3 million
FY 2015 State Appropriation: $51.6 million
When adjusted for inflation:
FY 2002 State Appropriation: $83.9 million
FY 2015 State Appropriation: $51.6 million.
A loss of $32 million in annual state appropriations over 13 years for this university, when adjusted for inflation. That type of cut in state appropriations could have also contributed to why Illinois state universities had to keep raising their tuition.
Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:39 pm
A note from the kidnappers. How exciting!
So, is this a new and different set of demands, or an additional set of demands, for this particular hostage?
Does the Turnaround Agenda (blessed be thy name) no longer apply to this one?
If not, why not?
Some “healthy and high-minded” clarification is in order (I call dibs on “healthy and high-minded debate” from here on out; it’s a hilarious phrase, in context).
I’m guessing this is the next hostage to be released, and the administration is looking for a fig leaf.
GOP legislators in college and university districts, I bet, have taken enough heat on this weirdo tactic of zeroing out higher education. They’re probably feeling flippity-floppety, just like some were on the local government funds hostages.
And they’re all taking heat from families of kids who might get kicked out of school (imagine that).
Seriously, all these flip-flops have been easy to see from miles away ever since they started on this preposterous road of hostage-taking.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:41 pm
My thoughts were the same as Rich regarding the cheap shot at Durbin’s wife. For those who missed it, this past weekend Durbin disclosed that Rauner had told him that he just wished that the Unions would go away. Durbin also said that other people had told him that Rauner told them the very same thing. I believe it was Trover who responded that Durbin was greatly exaggerating the Governor’s comment.
I do agree with the general premise of the letter that the U of I can operate more efficiently and that some employees are being compensated too generously.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:43 pm
People should stop using the word hostage. This is nothing close to an actual hostage situation and the word isn’t appropriate.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:44 pm
Funds from the MAP grant system go directly into a school’s coffers, so why is it so ridiculous for a request to hammer out reforms?
And if the Senate Dems themselves put out a hard-hitting report, why would they NOT want to participate in reform discussions?!
The U of I’s recent issues highlight some serious issues with their own system - let alone other schools. The U of I burns through administrators like the Browns burn through coaches.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Goldberg promised a charge of cronyism and delivered it with the revelation that Dick Durbin’s wife raked in more than 600 k in payments from EIU. Goldberg has identfied this as wasteful spending. Let’s see how Democrats and EIU defend and justify the continued spending on Dick Durbin’s wife fvor her services.
Comment by Muscular Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:50 pm
===…with the revelation that Dick Durbin’s wife raked in more than 600 k in payments from EIU.===
Maybe new to you… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:53 pm
These are interesting discussion points, even if the deliverer of the message is Goldberg.
These types of spending issues and wishy-washy oversight have to be a fundamental driver of the student loan bubble.
Regardless of politics, this discussion needs to be had across the US. It is obvious that there is a “educational industrial complex.”
If the money was spent more smartly, more MAP type young people could benefit, not to mention R&D and all the other cool things that universities can do.
Where’s the poison pill(s)? Has to be somewhere….
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:55 pm
On the Durbin issue, my trusty calculator tells me that averages out to $48,200 a year. Ho hum. I’m an academic (though not in IL), and administrative featherbedding & grotesque over-spending that has nothing whatsoever to do with student instruction is epidemic at large universities all across the country. In most places the athletic departments are the worst of the worst….
Comment by The Historian Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:56 pm
===I do agree with the general premise of the letter that the U of I can operate more efficiently and that some employees are being compensated too generously.===
I think just about everyone agrees with that premise. But it isn’t justification to withhold funding. I am a big fan of reform. But to leap from knowing we need reform to actually achieving meaningful reform is beyond the grasp of the present administration.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:58 pm
“What is the change in share of higher ed costs provided by tuition vs state funds and other sources, over time?”
In the 1960’s the state provided 67% of the UI budget. In 1956 tuition covered less than 7% of operations. According to the UI 2014 budget the state provided only 15% of operations(I think they got about 12%) while tuition provided about 24%. In 1970 the UI received $12.80 from the state for each $1 of tuition revenue collected from students. In 2014 it received 63 cents per $1 of tuition and this year it got $0.
Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:59 pm
Muscular:
Dick Durbin’s wife is a lobbyist. That’s her job. She gets paid to do that job. If you want to talk about lobbying then perhaps we can talk about it in general. The Governor has an army of what are essentially lobbyists. They lobby on behalf of the Governor. They are called legislative liaisons and I can tell you that many of them make more than the average $48K per year that Dick Durbin’s wife was paid to lobby. I fail to see the difference. Once again you let partisanship get in the way of any sort of useful discussion.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 3:59 pm
===Funds from the MAP grant system go directly into a school’s coffers, so why is it so ridiculous for a request to hammer out reforms?===
MAP is a voucher program. The money goes with the student and it’s the student who decides which school’s coffers gets the money. So at best, it’s indirect.
I’m 100% certain the Senate Democrats would enjoy a thorough review of the governance and financial operations of the state’s public universities. A lot of people forget that, with a couple of exceptions, the public universities are located in Republican districts. If these were Democratic patronage dumping grounds, Goldberg would have a point. In fact, historically, they’ve been Republican patronage havens, and it’s been the Republicans fighting behind the scenes to preserve the status quo.
So bring it on Goldberg. The people who don’t want to have this conversation are on your side. The Speaker and the Senate President would love to give this a full and fair hearing. Followed by a proper hanging.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:00 pm
Oh and while I’m at it, the other day a Bloomington shock jock complained that taxpayers were paying for professors to teach kids to hate America.
Guess what, not only are we tuition driven, but it is the humanities and social science teachers who do the bulk of the teaching, which means it is the humanities and social science teachers who fund the institution! I earn far more in tuition than I cost. So the taxpayer pays me nothing!! The students and their parents do.
And if you think all we teach is political correctness, I challenge you to audit my class and do the readings for say, two weeks. Then talk to me.
Buy why do journalism when you can just make stuff up?
Comment by History Prof Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:01 pm
I like it, 47th!
“So bring it on Goldberg. The people who don’t want to have this conversation are on your side.”
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:04 pm
How many of the university employees making more than the Governor are medical school employees/doctors? How many are in athletics and funded via the athletics program? How many are primarily supported by federal and private grants?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:08 pm
over the past 14 years, tuition at U of I has increased by $11,000, while tuition at Northwestern has increased by $24,000.
If U of I is badly in need of reform, what does the administration have to say about Northwestern?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:11 pm
“A lot of people forget that, with a couple of exceptions, the public universities are located in Republican districts.”
The biggest exception being UIUC.
Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:16 pm
While finding a way to fund the MAP grants is important - funding the state’s appropriations to the state universities is more important, if we want to keep the universities open. The MAP grants won’t do much good if the universities are closed.
Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:18 pm
@ Muscular, =Let’s see how Democrats and EIU defend and justify the continued spending on Dick Durbin’s wife fvor her services.+
Do your homework. Senator Durbin’s wife has not been an EIU lobbyist for at least the last three years.
Comment by Because I said so... Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:19 pm
Nice cheap shot at Mrs. Durbin. Meanwhile Purvis makes how much to do what exactly? And Purvis has hired incompetent staff like Niketa Brar to run a “post secondary effectiveness study” with no understanding or experience in higher ed.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:21 pm
His targeting of graduate student tuition waivers is very uninformed. Graduate students do the bulk of the work in research labs that bring in millions of dollars in grants to the university. They also do undergraduate teaching at a pay rate that is a bargain for the taxpayer. And finally — and this should be easy to understand since we have such a free-market/business savvy governor — there is a very competitive marketplace for highly qualified graduate students. Get rid of the tuition waivers and you’ll lose virtually all of them.
Comment by Filmmaker Professor Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Yellow Dog is right but that misses the point. And don’t even ask me what it was in the late 60’s!
To those who say that this is not another “hostage” situation I only say B.S,!!!!
And to tie MAP funding to a laundry list of other “reforms” is not only being disingenuous but it totally evades, or tries to shift the focus, to important but tangential issues that should not be a part of MAP funding.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:25 pm
I disliked the ” makes more than the Governor” comp when Punkin Head and Filan used to use it and I still don’t like it from the Captain of Cuteness. It’s okay for several of the Superstars to make more, Richard, so be consistent or find a better metric, ok bro?
As noted above, if one actually looks at those positions, and I have, the overwhelming majority are senior faculty, medical doctors, a few coaches (never paid by public funds) and Presidents/VPs. UIUC and UI Admin are the only places where one could argue there is administrative bloat.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:26 pm
UIUC, CSU, Governor’s State, Northeastern Illinois and (at least until the end of 2016) even WIU are all in Dem districts. So is SIUE, which of course is a candidate to split off and become its own school.
47th - you sure about that? According to the ISAC website, the Comptroller cuts funds to the school itself: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/grants/monetary-award-program/
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:29 pm
Swell note from Goldie.
But, then again, most spews of numbers always ask for the ‘whys’.
‘administrative staff at Illinois’ public universities increased 31.1%’
Why? Just padding? Or fluff & stuff? New Fed mandates? New research requiring administration? New grants & income requiring administration? Do the work & tell us, Goldie.
‘Executive Compensation and Golden Parachutes ‘
Pretty much like college football coaches. Prices for the very good & best goes up and up. Gee, there’s competition there. Want a reject, or a schlock for a major Univ pres? How is UofIL ranked year to year across the entire county? OK; then be willing to accept the results. Is Goldie & Raunner willing? Do they care?
‘ $1,745.60′
OMG. THAT will fix IL’s deficit !!! Wonder how much all of Goldie’s time writing snark has cost IL taxpayers. Just guessing more than $1,745.60.
‘Using State Funds To Lobby The State’
Whoa. But tell us, Goldie. What was the result of that? More limited $ for the schools thru lobbying? More grants? More help from the Feds? If so, how much? Show us the cost/benes. Don’t be shy.
We get the idea. Numbers wihtout context means little.
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:31 pm
===47th - you sure about that?===
Yes. The Comptroller sends the money to schools but only after ISAC notifies the student of the award each year.
Chicago State ran into a little problem when it was discovered they were enrolling some students just to get the MAP payment. The Tribune wrote about it. Not sure if anyone got arrested for that little bit of fraud, but I’d hope so. Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if no one was held accountable. TII.
Go Cougars!
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:35 pm
A lot of inaccuracies and half-truths in Goldberg’s statements. Tuition has gone up, but a very large amount of it was due to Blagojevich stopping the payments for health insurance for state employees working for universities. They had been paid out of a fund for paying health insurance for all state employees, including state university employees. The state universities now pay the portion the state used to pay, and had to get the money by raising tuition.
Most of the 1.5 billion the state pays to SURS is due to previous short payments or outright pension holidays where the state paid nothing. This “skip payment” practice went on for decades.
Because of the deceptive presentation of these 2 items, some of his other “Rauner talking points” have limited credibility. While some things can be improved upon, they should not be confused or entangled with Rauner’s turnaround agenda.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:35 pm
While Goldberg mentioned the 31% increase in administrative costs it is interesting to note that he did not mention the cost increases in actual Faculty costs.
Probably because such data did not suit his purose. It would be interesting to see his data.
Comment by Federalist Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Why wait until now? The Senate Dem piece came out last summer. Have the conversation and propose changes for next year but make good on this year ASAP!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:36 pm
Goldburg is an arrogant punk and should be kicked out of his cushy government job.
Comment by Goldloser Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:37 pm
To tied legitimate salary to the Gov statutory amount? No offense but a top surgeon better make tons more than what the Gov or for that matter the POTUS. I wouldn’t trust a cheap surgeon to head up a world class medical school; would you? Of course the Gov, who makes $25K an hour thinks we should have Walmart quality doctors running the school.
Comment by Paul Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:38 pm
I agree with majority of what Goldberg posted. However he’s going down a slippery slope using an elected official family member as an example to outline a problem. Usually that’s out of bounds.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:42 pm
OK. I completely agree that the U of I, where I work, could be more administratively efficient. But most people ignore the fact that a lot of the administrative increase is the direct result of state (and federal) regulation and demands for students (and their parents) for services that didn’t exist 30 years ago.
Examples. The procurement process put in place after the Blago debacles essentially required a full-time administrator at the law school just so we could buy stuff to function. We have a student publication (the Illinois Law Review) that has been publishing for over 60 years using the same journal publisher; after the procurement law, it took nearly two years and God knows how many hours of an administrator’s time to get the contract renewed, even though it was at basically the same price for the same services it has always been. It’s so bad that I think the U actually made a pitch to the Legislature along the lines of “we’d be happy to take a budget cut in exchange for release from the procurement process.”
Expansion of the Federal FERPA and other laws require us to keep detailed student records and generate compliance reports that we did not have to keep back in the 1980’s and before - someone has to actually keep those records and generate the reports.
And then there are student services. Students (and their parents) demand a level of service (one might say “coddling”) that just wasn’t expected 30 years ago (if you have any question about that, look at the apartments on campus that rent for $2000/mth and the new dorms going up). Sure, we could just refuse to play that game, but then students would exit for places that DID play that game. Can’t get that luxo dorm room at Illinois? Northwestern, here I come.
And finally, when it comes to salaries, there’s a market. It’s like football coaches. Don’t want to pay $3 million/yr? Fine, but you’ll never hire a top level coach. Yes, it’s crazy, but then if you don’t play the game, people complain that you’re not trying to compete. If you want to hire faculty that could be the next Nobel Prize winners, you’re going to have to pay Harvard rates, because if you don’t, they are going to Harvard. And those faculty are going to need support staff to help write the grant applications for NIH and NSF grants that pay for the cutting-edge research that wins Nobel prizes. God knows the state isn’t going to pay for it.
So . . . I won’t deny there is some level of administrative bloat. But a large proportion of the increase in administration is the direct result of unfunded mandates from the state and federal governments, demands by students and parents for a level of personal attention that simply didn’t exist 30 years ago, and competing for high-level professorial talent.
When you have a University with as many departments ranked in the top-10 or 20 in the country as the U of I, you’d better be careful that you don’t break it, because like Humpty-Dumpty, you’ll never put it back together again.
Comment by jdcolombo Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:51 pm
How many “superstars” Rauner hired make more than the governor’s salary? That basically negates Goldberg’s point on that one.
Comment by MyTwoCents Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:54 pm
“People should stop using the word hostage. This is nothing close to an actual hostage situation and the word isn’t appropriate.”
Give me what I want or else.
The implements of destruction are different but the effects are same. The word is very appropriate for what is going on in State government.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:57 pm
The memo was terribly one-sided as the governor ramps up his war on higher ed.
Comment by Because I said so... Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:57 pm
Thanks, F-Prof. The Tuition and Fee Waiver item stood out as one of the more bogus ones on the list. I might add that in the case of externally funded research grants, the cost of the tuition and fees waiver is charged to the grant, not to taxpayers. Do the superstars understand this, and did they adjust their totals accordingly?
Also worthy of special mention is the misleading item, Employee Pensions and Health Care. This issue has been discussed ad nauseum here and elsewhere. Severe cuts have already been made to retirement benefits for Tier-II employees so that, by federal rules, they can’t be reduced much more. The seemingly big percentage increase in pension spending is due to decades of underfunding, the Edgar ramp, and using a year when the state contributed only 47% of its net ARC as the reference for the increase (newbies, for more information see http://www.surs.org/pdfs/joint/SURS_Facts.pdf). The ISC has ruled out stiffing the Tier-I employees and retirees. If the superstars can’t come up with constitutional means to significantly reduce pension costs, don’t expect any to come from the GA. They already tried and failed.
Comment by X-prof Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:05 pm
Not having dwelled on university funding, I’ve heard enough concerns from folks I trust, like AA, that there is merit in looking at the issue. My problem is that the Rauner administration has focused so much time on obfuscating or conveying false information on issues, I can’t accept the dot points in Goldberg’s without verification from reputable sources.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:06 pm
With the State drastically decreasing its appropriations to the state universities, it seems logical for the state universities to employ lobbyist to try and influence the State to pay up. And with 0 appropriations to the universities so far this year, all the more reason to use lobbyists.
“Eastern Illinois University paid Senator Dick Durbin’s wife $627,000 over a period of 13 years to lobby on the University’s behalf.” That comes to a salary of about $48,000 a year. I’m guessing that there are many lobbyists in the State who make far more that that. Many of Goldberg’s other points also need to be placed in context.
Furthermore, using the spending incidents of one university in one of his points, Goldberg seems to be implying that all of the universities spend like that.
Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:26 pm
jdcolombo is to the point in many respects. And I sincerely hope some wise legislator will realize the wisdom and the prophesy of
“When you have a University with as many departments ranked in the top-10 or 20 in the country as the U of I, you’d better be careful that you don’t break it, because like Humpty-Dumpty, you’ll never put it back together again.”
My Alma Mater and one of my fighting passions. thank you for your post.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:26 pm
Administrative staff went up 31%? What happens when a full time administrator leaves and is replaced by 2 low paid part time administrators? Are the counted as 1 or 2? What about employees that have been re-classified as “administrators” to avoid union representation and pay lower wages? Teachers who also do administrative work? Administrators who also teach classes? Without more detail, Goldberg’s numbers are almost worthless.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:31 pm
OK it took the SuperStars about 90 days to wet their pants and fold on day care. So about Income Tax Day the universities will see some cash. Set you watches.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:33 pm
The damning report came from the Senate Dems. Those who have been avoiding the issues have mostly been Republicans. That should make Goldberg and his boss happy, because that means something might get done.
It is unfortunate that the newest group who get to feel the pain, to force “reform” on someone else, are students and their families.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:38 pm
Thanks for your input Professor Columbo. The administration would be well served taking some time to actually talk to you and others who are serving in the trenches.
Comment by Illinois law Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:55 pm
Since we are throwing tricky Dicks wife under the bus, let’s not forget that ultra conservative Jim Edgar. What’s he raking in a year compliments of us tax payers?
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 5:57 pm
Delay is a high brow tactic like crony capitalism
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 6:15 pm
MAP awards are made to low income students. The colleges have told students they will be expected to pay that amount for the spring semester, meaning that these low income students are being held hostage as part of this budget debacle. They are real people being placed at a real disadvantage.
Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:06 pm
8 board meetings at a cost of over $160,000?
Talk about living in ivory towers.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:14 pm
The real problem is these pesky students. Year after year they show up, and expect to be taught and provided a place to sleep. And man do they eat. And some even have the nerve to show up without the means to pay their bill. Sure, as the Governor reminded us yesterday, we need to grow our economy and create some jobs. That appears to work in other states quite well, so well in fact that many of our best and brightest leave every year to attend college. But how is that relevant here in Illinois?
All this book lernin’ is overrated, I’m headin’ back to the unicorn ranch for some R&R.
Comment by Columbo Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:29 pm
BHE Executive Compensation Analysis
http://www.ibhe.org/Reports%20&%20Studies/PDF/2015CompReport.pdf
Comment by Liberty Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:42 pm
There’s a pretty good report about what the Pension Clause means if the Rauner admin is looking to find inspiration from Senate Dem work.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:43 pm
If Chicago State successfully rooted out cronyism the university would cease to exist.
Comment by Heavy Snark Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 7:46 pm
It galls me, we as taxpayers, pay Deputy Richard Goldberg $114,635.06 per year and for his massive health benefit package to write nasty stuff about othets on bathroom wall. This guy needs to stop acting like a spoiled frat boy on my dime.
Comment by Goldloser Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 8:02 pm
tuition up 200% in 14 years -
Student is up how much?
Higher Ed is ripe for a giant fall.
Comment by cannon649 Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:01 pm
I work in higher ed in Illinois. The reason tuition has increased is because state funding perpetually decreases. Yet Goldberg blames the universities. What planet is this administration living on?
Comment by Matt Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:27 pm
To follow up, I just can’t believe Goldberg’s ignorance. The university I work at has tightened its belt to such a degree that we are extremely lean as it is. There’s just no sense that Goldberg is aware of the atmosphere on Illinois public university campuses.
Comment by Matt Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:34 pm
Blue,do you actually know some things or do you just use words that sound good in your head? The ultra conservative Edgar
ran for office as a supporter of ERA, as pro choice, as a supporter of making àn expiring income tax hike permanent, etc.
Comment by Steve Schnorf Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 1:44 am