For years, Florida's public universities have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the Board of Governors at its request, but Florida State University will not comply this year with a system one lawmaker deemed "soft extortion."
The Board of Governors, the State University System's highest governing body, asks each of Florida's 11 public universities to donate a certain amount of money to the board each year based on the university's size.
The board accepts $300,000 in university contributions each year, and $199,000 goes toward Board of Governors Chancellor Mark Rosenberg's salary, said Bill Edmonds, spokesman for the board. The rest pays for the board's travel and food expenses.
This year, UF complied with the board's request for a $55,000 contribution, which came from the UF Foundation, the body that handles fundraising and endowments for the university.
However, FSU did not make a donation this year. FSU President T.K. Wetherell said his university couldn't afford to contribute due to budget constraints.
"We need every dollar we can find," Wetherell said.
FSU's financial situation isn't unique - all of Florida's public universities felt effects of statewide budget cuts this year, leading them each to prepare for cuts of tens of millions of dollars.
Florida Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said he disagrees with the board's request for contributions while universities are strapped for cash.
"I personally am troubled that these are funds that otherwise could go to student scholarships, and instead they're going to pay Dr. Rosenberg more than twice as much than the president of the United States is paid," Gaetz said. "I hope he's worth it."
Still, Edmonds said the contributions are voluntary. A university can't be punished if it decides not to comply with the board's request, he added.
"We don't question the motives on that," Edmonds said.
However, Gaetz said it would be difficult for a university to refuse.
"It's hardly a free-will offering," he said. "If this kind of practice occurred between students and a professor or dean, there would a justifiable revolt."
When Rosenberg took his position as chancellor, his salary was $225,000, he said. It's now about $232,000 after raises, which were given to all state employees, he said.
The compensation funds provided by each university are necessary to keep a chancellor as experienced and qualified as Rosenberg, Edmonds said.
Wetherell agreed that sufficient compensation was necessary to attract a competent chancellor.
Still, he said the board should consider finding other contributors.
"Let them go raise their money like we raise ours," Wetherell said.
