Regents to review costs at presidents' homes

Four college and university presidents live in million-dollar homes — for free — while a fifth university president lives in a house she built with her own money.

The Utah Board of Regents will review a new report in a meeting this week that looks at the operation and maintenance costs of each institutional residence at Utah's nine public colleges and universities.

In years past, those budgets have included purchase of a grand piano, the cost of remodeling when a new president moves in, and mundane things like leaky-roof repair, heat and power — and even a hot tub at one house.

But today's presidents aren't exactly living large, according to some.

"I think all the presidents understand that their benefits for a house are under scrutiny all the time," said Rich Kendell, state commissioner for public higher education. "I think they keep very clear records of what they do."

The regents, however, only periodically look at line items, concentrating instead on the overall operation and maintenance costs, according to Kendell. Last year's report received little more than a nod during a regents meeting.

A few presidential pads don't quite fit the mold of an all-expenses paid place to live.

College of Eastern Utah President Ryan Thomas showed a zero budget in 2003-04 for his house — he paid out of his own pocket to maintain the place.

And Weber State University President F. Ann Millner does get a stipend for the upkeep of her home, but it's her house, not the state's, according to WSU spokesman John Kowalewski.

When she leaves WSU, he added, there is money in escrow that would allow the state to purchase her home. The school sold its past presidential home in 2003.

The new report for regents shows that budgets for the current homes aren't vastly different from last year, with a few exceptions.

Snow College's budget jumped by over $18,000 because the 25-year-old home needs new appliances and furniture, according to spokesman Rick Pike.

Salt Lake Community College saw a big jump to more than $52,000 for 2005-06.

That's because SLCC has a new president, according to spokesman Joy Tlou. "It just sort of bumps up the price," he said.

But the interior of SLCC's house — the fourth-largest of all the schools — is dated in some ways and "simply" but elegantly appointed throughout, Tlou noted. The key, he added, is what purpose the house serves.

"It's often used for college functions," Tlou said. The hot tub that used to be a feature of the president's house, he added, is gone.