CA: Judge: UC can't decide executive pay packages behind doors

ap on Riverside Press Enterprise ^ | 8/4/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

BERKELEY

A judge has ruled that University of California regents can't decide how much to pay top executives behind closed doors, although they may hold discussions on the issue in private.

The ruling this week by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Winifred Smith came in response to a suit by the San Francisco Chronicle. The newspaper sought to make the compensation committee of UC's Board of Regents discuss executive pay in public.

Previously, committees have arrived at recommendations on executive pay in private and then the full board has voted on those recommendations in public.

Smith ruled that regents' committees can't make a collective decision on which way they will recommend the full board vote on pay packages. However, she said discussing compensation is legal if no action is taken. The judge also declined to order UC to tape meetings of its finance committee and special committee on compensation.

The issue of executive pay has been controversial at UC, with the Chronicle reporting last year that top officials were quietly given millions in bonuses, relocation packages and other types of compensation.

[1FASTGLOCK45]

I wanna job like that spongebob! One that gives me free $ for pretending to be smart (tounge sticking out)..........

[Tzimisce]

Funny - the left demands all these sunshine laws and then ignores them...

[calcowgirl]

If there is a public lynching of the Regents, ping me, would ya?

[pepsionice]

I think alot of Californians would be shocked at just how much cash is handed out to sign up or keep folks within the university system. You could be the chief exec of some university in San Diego....demanding $25k moving costs, another $40k in general refurbishment of the university quarters (new carpet, new paint, new kitchen, etc), and even demand a travel allowance of $25k per year....which allows you to travel to China or London or Madrid. Over a 5-year period, you could easily take out $5 million in costs to be local president of the college. And then you have to deal in the same fashion with professors and recruitment. So the whole system is a joke. While California is the worst of the whole bunch....you could take the same case down to Auburn in Alabama....and watch all the freebies given to the football coach under the table....a huge renovation of his office area, a special media room, travel allowance, etc. The whole university sytem in the US is corrupt and someone ought to make them publish their financial books each year for public review.