Ray Rodrigues, the Chancellor of Florida’s university system, is the highest-paid state employee, making over $441,000 a year. This sum puts him well ahead of the second highest-paid employee, Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, by around $110,000.
Recently, the Board of Governors approved a new three-year contract for Rodrigues, raising his base salary to $600,000. There’s also a potential performance bonus of up to 20%. This agreement makes him significantly more compensated than anyone else in state employment.
Kamoutsas was a strong supporter of this pay increase. “This state is a national model for higher education,” he remarked during the Board meeting, emphasizing Rodrigues’s worthiness of even more than the proposed increase.
Interestingly, Rodrigues’s new contract will not be funded directly by taxpayers. Instead, raises will derive from the Board of Governors Foundation’s private funds. In July, the Board transferred $4 million in taxpayer funds for a new university accrediting body, but this will not be used for Rodrigues’s salary, confirmed a spokesperson.
Under the new contract, he also receives a $75,000 housing stipend and a $12,000 car allowance. The contract lasts until 2029.
Not everyone is on board with this increase. Eric Silagy, a Board member and former CEO of Florida Power & Light, voted against it. He expressed concern about the money that could have been used for student benefits. He noted that the $600,000 salary is unprecedented for someone staying in the same role.
While some university presidents earn more than Rodrigues, state law dictates that their salaries come from foundation funds once they exceed $200,000.
Rodrigues has been in his role since 2022 and has a long background in politics, having served 12 years in the Florida Legislature. His last known reported net worth is $313,213.
Recent Insights
The rise in executive salaries in higher education has sparked debates across the country. A recent report by the American Association of University Professors noted that salaries for university presidents have jumped significantly over the past decade, raising eyebrows amid increasing student debt levels.
Many social media reactions echo this sentiment, questioning fairness in education funding while salaries are on the rise for a few individuals at the top. According to a survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed, nearly 70% of respondents believe that university executives are overpaid compared to faculty and academic personnel.
In a time when fiscal responsibility is emphasized, the disparity in salaries remains a hot topic, both in Florida and nationwide. For additional context, this increase is happening while many public sectors continue to face funding challenges, making the debate around such salaries even more crucial.
For more on this topic, you can check out the Florida Board of Governors salary database.
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