Arkansas State Lawmaker Seeking More Transparancy In Higher Education Funding, Spending

January 14, 2009 11:30 a.m. EST

Little Rock, AR (AHN) - An Arkansas state legislator has filed a bill that would require more transparancy in both spending and funding of state higher education.

AR state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R-District 30) says his proposal would allow easier access of information that is largely public record anyway.

His legislation would request the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to list details of college administrators with salaries at and above $100,000 online. In addition, details on housing and vehicle allowances, along with deferred compensation and other fringe benefits, for those individuals would be listed online each year by July 15.

Baker's district includes the University of Central Arkansas where then college president Lu Hardin resigned last year over criticism about a bonus of $300,000 he had been awarded in secret.

If the measure passes the Senate Education Committee it will move to the House of Representatives for action.

Baker said if the $100,000 figure encompasses so many people that it becomes cumbersome to list all of them, and details of their compensation and benefit packages online that he would be willing to adjust that figure upward. He said that his goal is to get the information out so the higher education coordinating board has more facts upon which to base decisions.