Gov. Ige puts lump of coal in UH’s coffers
STAR-ADVERTISER
“I believe that the university needs to take responsibility in terms of autonomy seriously and make (substantive) decisions about how best to provide for the Manoa campus.” Gov. David Ige
STAR-ADVERTISER
“I believe that the university needs to take responsibility in terms of autonomy seriously and make (substantive) decisions about how best to provide for the Manoa campus.” Gov. David Ige
There will be nothing extra in the University of Hawaii athletic department’s Christmas stocking from Gov. David Ige this year.
None of the requested $3 million for athletics made it into the fiscal year 2017 executive supplemental budget announced Monday.
UH requested the funds to help underwrite stipends for athletes, travel expenses and rising operational costs for its 21-team program. UH-Hilo also was turned down in its bid for $560,000 for “student-athlete success and travel costs.”
Ige’s budget listed $10 million for Aloha Stadium “to meet code, safety or operational requirements” but the governor renewed his unwillingness to fund rebuilding the 41-year-old facility.
In its request, UH said, “Collegiate athletics at (its campuses) has a significant value and benefit beyond the university itself,” citing community pride and a significant boost to the state’s economy.
Overall, the UH System had sought $16.2 million for a variety of operations and got backing for $9.8 million, including $4 million of the $5 million requested for the Cancer Center.
“I believe that the university needs to take responsibility in terms of autonomy seriously and make (substantive) decisions about how best to provide for the Manoa campus,” Ige said at a State Capitol press conference.
Ige said the general fund appropriation for UH system is just under $500 million “and clearly the university does have the authority and the autonomy to allocate those funds in any way that they choose.”
Manoa athletics receives less than $4 million in direct general funds, officials said. Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman has previously said the general funds “chiefly go to the operations of the business office, the janitors and landscaping … it doesn’t go directly to support athletic operations.”
Next month UH officials said they will renew the request before State House and Senate money committees. A similar request was turned down by the Legislature in the 2015 session.
State money is among the cornerstones of UH athletic director David Matlin’s plan to balance the Manoa athletic budget by 2020. He declined comment Monday. Matlin has said that UH, because of its geography, has $5.2 million in “unique” costs.
Manoa ran a $4.2 million deficit for the fiscal year that concluded June 30, 2015, and is projected to operate at a $4.8 million deficit for the current fiscal year that ends June 30, 2016.
A USA Today report said just 24 of 230 Division I programs meet the NCAA’s self-sufficiency benchmarks.
39 responses to “Gov. Ige puts lump of coal in UH’s coffers”
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Contrary to what Governor Ige seems to be suggesting, I don’t think UH is misallocating its funds, or not using its funds wisely, or does not think it has autonomy in the matter of distribution. The issue is clearly the lack of the proper AMOUNT of funds–which he does not address. As in any other UH department, lack of funds will have its consequences.
In a state budget that is 13 billion a year, and with the waste that our politicians create, what’s 4 million for athletics? The state took in a lot of extra money from their share of the GE tax increase for the rail.
Read the article again – UH has over $500 million to spend as it sees fit under their autonomy. That’s Ige’s position – he’s not saying UH is misusing the funds, he’s telling them to allocate the available funds without crying for more money for a specific department. Honestly, is it really that hard for UH to reshuffle less than 1% of the total budget if UH feels that strongly about it?
agree. I strongly disagree with the Regents in trying to extract millions more for a poorly run athletic program that does NOT service Hawaii or the student body. The mission of the UH is public service, teaching, and research. Not public entertainment. Ige did the right thing: if the UH wants to spend their allocation on sports, let them take the responsibility for the cuts they make in core services. I am no fan of Ige but he is right in this instance.
Allie, you are missing the point. The UH agrees with you that sports fall outside the scope or the priorities of the University. Therefore, spending for these items should not be counted against the money allocated to the UH for academic and public service and teahing purposes. If Hawaii wants sports, then it— the state and not the university– should pay for it. UH is asking for the money for athletics outside of their budget as an item for the State to fund and not the UH– for example, tuition and student fees should go to education and not to subisidizing the athletic program.
You can’t just punish management without affecting the students, too.
Don’t agree with me because I strongly believe athletics has an important role in education just like music and the arts. I am a UH alumni who enjoyed the sports activities offered by UH as intramural sports while I attended many years ago (guess who pays for that). Also, the most poorly run program at UH is “admissions” that allows pathetically inept persons like you to squander the educational resources for years.
You know who has college athletics: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, CalTech, UChicago, Stanford…etc. In fact, most schools that have dropped athletics (which is very very few schools) have immediately seen their enrollement dropped—any more bright ideas 3 affiliated???!
Choi pointed out the insufficiency of UH’s accounting that can’t even justify its claimed shortfall on the electricity bill increase. If you can’t even properly account for bills by a third party, then imagine how messed up its internal accounting must be. Admin even refused to modify its allocation and overview system as recommended by its own faculty proving it rather be bailed out by the taxpayers than correct its financial system.
Pacificsports: Thank goodness Cutshaw is on her way out. Hopefully the next VC (fiscal) will have the ability to add and subtract!
Well, the fact that 6 figure salary administration jobs are exploding over there while students can’t even get the classes they need to graduate while professors are paid lowly compared to their mainland counterparts DOES suggest something is seriously amiss. And let’s remember the wunder blunder. Not misallocating funds you say?
Amosilatus: What planet have you been residing on over the past several year? UH has, on numerous occasions, misspent funds. It is sickening that nobody holds the administration accountable.
He has lost my vote.
For refusing to give UH who’s seeing expenses explode with new 6 figure salary admin jobs while students can’t get the classes they need to graduate more money?
Ige should be applauded. Representative Choy (no relation, nor am I in his district) and Governor Ige need to hold UH’s leadership to the fire and make them place students and education first. Not second, third, fourth or last like how they are doing now.
How could he have lost a vote when he never got it in the first place?
He’s Mr. Scrooge. Probably doesn’t like sports. Not voting for him either.
Is S and M considered a sport?
How many faculty and students vote?
If my puppies could only vote, too.
Hope he doesn’t go to any more UH games. I pay for my ticket so should he.
If he does he’d better be prepared for the “welcome” he will be receiving from the fans.
State govt has another computer system that may or may not work. Ige wants to spend money on that, instead. Oh, and don’t forget aoout the Hawaii Health Care Connector. The circus continues.
If you and others like you are so ready and informed to point out specific areas of “waste”, you’re ready to state that UH’s over $500 million budget is not full of waste and that they absolutely must have additional $3 mil. specifically for sports? Please inform me how that is so by breaking down the UH budget and proving there is no waste.
Are you including the increase in tuition parents and students will now need to pay?
Connector was Ambercrombie. Ige’s shutting that debacle down. Get your adminstrations right.
Football fans and sponsors will make up the difference. Matlin will get it done.
I got faith in Matlin. I hope he finds away. Next election we need to vote for candidates that watch out for our best interest, State Government is our business. It needs to be run efficiently and effectively, now I sound like Ariyoshi. Streamline government and stop making new jobs in government. Create an atmosphere of r more jobs in the private sector!
Next election? I thought Hawaii already has great leaders?
The guy that just promoted Paterson? Or was that Bley-Vroman pulling his strings?
Ige and Caldwell are the real Santa Claus to the homeless in Honolulu.
Matlin and the fundraisers will get sponsors to come up with the funds.
College should begin with the bake fund raising sale.
““I believe that the university needs to take responsibility in terms of autonomy seriously and make (substantive) decisions about how best to provide for the Manoa campus,” Ige said at a State Capitol press conference.”>>> AaaaaaMEN brother!
Yep. He has an answer for everything, except for himself?
Darn… do you have anything to say that approaches any thoughtfulness? Sure doesn’t appear so.
Womens sports with equal number of athletic scholarships for women are a federal mandate. Women’s sports are with the exception of volleyball are big money losers. If the federal mandate is not met, the university doesn’t receive federal research money. Funding of the athletic program deficits should come out of the University’s research budget. However the University’s professors are into research and do not see it this way. The state needs to line item the money to fund women’s athletics scholarships.
Yup, as do FL, WA and a host of other states….
Is there a correlation between a successful football program at schools which have the broad fan support and academia? Looks that way.
Here is a link to check out regarding football and academic rankings. http://time.com/4147924/college-football-top-25-ranked-by-academics/