Statement on UConn Spending $740,000 on a New Presidential Residence

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement responding to reports that the University of Connecticut is going to spend $740,000 to purchase a 5,000 square-foot home in Storrs for their next president.

“Here we go again. UConn continues its pattern of abusing taxpayer dollars, pouring money into administrative bloat and excess, at the same time they ask for more from taxpayers and students.

“Just a few years ago, a $660,000 home was purchased on one of Hartford’s most desirable boulevards for the university president. A few years before that, UConn spent nearly half a million dollars to renovate and maintain another residence for their president, paying for everything from $40,000 in paint to hiring a full time housekeeper. And while multiple presidents have refused to live in the president’s designated residence on campus, UConn has still spent over $1 million to renovate the 3,630-square-foot house on Oak Hill Road in Storrs. Now, another purchase!

“Year after year we hear of unsustainable expenses at UConn. For every massive purchase and wasteful spending, that much less is going toward education. Officials complain of fringe benefit costs growing, yet they remained silent when the SEBAC deal that created these crushing costs was being approved by Democrats. They come to the legislature to demand more money and they increase tuition to the point where it has become unaffordable for many students, at the same time they continue to spend more on wants over needs. The university has been tone deaf to the struggles and financial burdens people in our state our facing today.”