Otter’s higher ed CEO proposal gets rocky reception in Legislature; Sun. column…

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal to add a high-paid new CEO of higher education next year to oversee consolidating business functions among the state’s universities drew heavy flak in the state Legislature last week; you can read my full Sunday column here . Otter is proposing $500,000 for a “systems integration consultant” next year, plus ongoing funding for a new executive officer to oversee the newly consolidated functions, at a salary of roughly $200,000. That would make the new CEO the state’s highest-paid employee, other than university presidents and top football and basketball coaches.