U. president's home costs $102,350 to maintain

If University of Utah President Michael K. Young had to pay for expenses at his home, it would cost roughly one-third of his $295,000 annual salary.

Fortunately for Young and presidents at each of Utah's nine public colleges and universities, they don't have to pay the operation and maintenance costs at homes provided by their schools.

The State Board of Regents will discuss those costs, detailed in a new report, at its monthly meeting today.

Utah System of Higher Education figures show the U. will spend about $102,000 in 2004-05 for upkeep at the stately Rosenblatt Home.

That house is more than 11,400 square feet in size. The president's home at Southern Utah University in Cedar City is almost the same size but will cost only $16,000 to maintain.

The biggest difference: The U. home was built more than 70 years ago, the SUU house is less than 7 years old.

"It's an old house, and there's lots of work that needs to be done there," said Michael Perez, U. associate vice president for facilities management.

Utilities alone at the fuel-inefficient U. home — it has five furnaces — run between $11,000 and $13,000 a year.

The bright spot for the U. is that no tax dollars go toward maintaining the home. It's all taken from discretionary funds, which have several sources of funding, including private donations.

An even brighter spot is reserved for College of Eastern Utah President Ryan Thomas — he pays for the entire cost to maintain his home out of his own pocket. Chalk it up to a lack of funding, said CEU spokesman Brad King. So, Thomas' kids mow the lawn, and Thomas, who earns $117,300 a year, pays the bills, which saves the school in the neighborhood of $5,000 a year.

"It's not just where the president lives," said Dave Buhler, Utah System of Higher Education associate commissioner of public affairs. "It's also a place where he or she entertains."

USU President Kermit Hall said that fund raising has gone from $14 million to $27 million since donations and contributions went toward the purchase of his home in 1996. Last year it cost $76,826 to run the place.

"I think in terms of the house, it's been a real plus for Utah State," Hall said. He has turned down a plan for elaborate landscaping at the home, preferring to leave some areas with only dirt to save money. At least, Hall added, they no longer have to move the furniture out of the living and dining rooms for large gatherings.