Editorial: Perks for CSU execs in need of overhaul — Remodeling as tuition soars is wrong message

Taxpayers who live in three-bedroom, two-bath tract homes and can't afford to renovate their aging kitchens have good reason to resent the details of the Cal State University system's latest public-relations blunder.

In the past 10 years, taxpayers have sprung for at least half of the $2 million in renovations to the homes of eight university-owned residences. That doesn't include routine maintenance, the kind of household expenses most taxpayers pay out of their own salaries.

This news comes at a time when student tuitions are rising, classes are being cut and fewer students are being admitted.

Remember Elliot Hirshman, the $400,000-a-year Cal State San Diego president? To further show their appreciation for the man who received a $100,000-a-year bump over the former president's salary, taxpayers and foundations paid for a kitchen remodel, pool replastering and more. The bill came to $257,000, according to a report in The Sacramento Bee. Previous reports elsewhere on the remodeling put the figure at $100,000 less. But, hey, what's a hundred grand here and there among taxpayers who have to put up with old kitchen linoleum?

And did we mention that Hirshman's salary approval came on the same day that CSU trustees approved a 12 percent tuition hike? Well, we have mentioned that before on this page, but it's worth repeating, especially to trustees who can seem to be deaf to public opinion.

It is heartening to know that earlier this

But let's not pick on Hirshman. There's plenty of dirt being moved on other CSU residences.

For example, the president of Cal State Northridge, Dianne Harrison, garnered $115,000 from the University Corporation to remodel her home away from home.

The queen of the local remodels, Cal State Fullerton's recently appointed president, Mildred Garcia, saw a $300,000 remodel, including $147,000 to redo the kitchen, at the university's official residence, El Dorado Ranch. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like a home of 6,991 square feet, which includes five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

And even that pales with the $831,000 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo coughed up to renovate its president's castle during the past decade. Almost all of that came from taxpayers.

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Editorial: Perks for CSU execs in need of overhaul -- Remodeling as tuition soars is wrong message