UC's Skyrocketing Budget Has Lawmakers Checking The Books

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- California lawmakers have authorized nearly a half-million dollars to conduct an audit of the University of California President's Office.

Members of the State Assembly say they are having trouble determining exactly why the President's budget has nearly doubled in since 2007.

The audit was requested by assembly members Kevin McCarty of Sacramento and Phil Ting of San Francisco, who say they don't know how many employees work for the President.

"In addition, the budget's grown from $355 million in '07-'08, to a whopping $688 million as of today," Ting told KCBS.

Ting says the numbers don't add up.

"To compare it to CSU, which has to oversee over 23 campuses - their budget's only $150 million. So, as we have treasured state dollars, we're not able to give UC as much money as we would like. We want to make sure every dollar goes to as many California students as possible," Ting said.

A university spokesman told the Chronicle that this is the ninth audit since 2010 involving UC and that this information could be obtained in a less formal manner.