ABOR considers higher education tax

At the same time that Arizona Regent, Dennis DeConcini, is advocating for a ballot measure that would impose a tax dedicated to higher education funding, information is coming out about the salary and benefits for ASU’s President, Michael Crow, and his wife Sybil Francis.

“His annual salary of $475,000 plus benefits now comes in at $742,500. That includes a $50,000 housing allowance to assist in maintaining their exclusive $1,250,000 Paradise Valley digs, and $10,000 yearly car allowance,” reports the website, Seeing Red AZ. “The ASU Foundation on which his wife serves as a “senior advisor” kicks in an additional $100,000 annually in compensation. His yearly perks include $85,500 pension and $22,000 in retirement. Annual step-up bonuses are part of the deal: 2013: Up to $40,000, 2014: Up to $40,000 and the major step-up in 2015: Up to $180,000 for exceeding “benchmarks.” Wifey Sybil Francis rakes in a six-figure income from the university, but the exact amount is elusive.”

Meanwhile, the head of the entire California State University System, Timothy P. White, is paid $410,000 per year.

According to the Yellow Sheet, DeConcini said that the regents should consider filing a lawsuit to force the Legislature to provide more funding, on the grounds current funding violates the constitutional provision that higher education be “as nearly free as possible” in Arizona. I’ve thought about [filing] it myself.”

Arizona university costs are creeping up and re currently over the average cost of California state universities. For years, California students flocked to Arizona to take advantage of the price advantage.

Still, the average cost for a private university experience is far greater than the public schools. Prescott College, which is referred to as a diploma mill for aspiring educators, costs nearly three times as much as its public counterparts. As for elite private schools, the costs begin at about $40,000 per year.

In 2012, the state spent $686 million on its public universities with the remaining costs covered by tuition and fees.