PLANS A, B, C and D
by Charlie Schwartz, UC Berkeley, February 18, 2009
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STATEMENT TO THE UC BOARD OF REGENTS
MEETING ON FEBRUARY 4, 2009
BY CHARLES SCHWARTZ, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UC BERKELEY
DURING THESE DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES WE OFTEN HEAR UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I SEE. IN DECEMBER I ISSUED A PAPER WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVE BUDGET POSSIBILITIES, WHICH YOU HAVE COMPLETELY IGNORED.
LET ME TRY AGAIN, WITH A NEW INSPIRATION THAT COMES FROM WASHINGTON DC. ONE DAY AFTER BEING INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARAK OBAMA ANNOUNCED THAT MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF WOULD HAVE THEIR PAY CAPPED AT $100,000. THEIR PURPOSE WAS PUBLIC SERVICE, NOT PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
HOW MIGHT THAT CONCEPT APPLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA? WE ARE CERTAINLY DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE; AND WE HAVE A GREAT MANY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PAID OVER $100,000 PER YEAR.
LET ME OFFER A VERY MODEST SUGGESTION. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE ONE PERCENT – JUST ONE PERCENT OF THE SALARIES PAID TO THOSE EARNING OVER $100,000 THROUGHOUT UC, THAT WOULD NET YOU $29,000,000.
THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO COVER THE FULL COSTS FOR THOSE 2,300 NEW STUDENTS THAT YOU WERE PLANNING TO TURN AWAY NEXT YEAR.
SO, THERE IS A NEW IDEA FOR YOU TO PUT ON THE TABLE AND DISCUSS.