Scrutiny is mounting over the spending habits of former University of Florida president Ben Sasse, following reports that his office spent sums markedly higher than his predecessor. Governor Ron DeSantis, through a statement from spokesman Bryan Griffin, indicated an investigation may be on the horizon. "We take the stewardship of state funds very seriously and have already been in discussions with leadership at the university and with the (state university system's) Board of Governors to look into the matter," Griffin said, as per NBC Miami.
Investigative impulses resonate with the state's fiscal watchdog, as Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis voiced his concern on social media, "Reports of (the university's) exorbitant spending by Ben Sasse's office are concerning," and suggested his agency would provide auditing support to the Board of Governors. Meanwhile, an audit had earlier been touted by Patronis himself, according to CBS Miami.
These actions come in the wake of a report by the Independent Florida Alligator, which highlighted a tripling of Sasse's office spending to $17.3 million. Notable expenses included the hiring of several of his former U.S. Senate staffers, with two given the latitude to operate remotely from Washington, D.C. This surge of financial outflow extends to travel, where the office's costs saw a seismic shift from $28,000 to $633,000 within a year.
The fiscal drama unfolds as Sasse exited his UF tenure abruptly in July, after serving less than two years, citing concerns related to his wife's health. As uncertainty festers over the appropriate use of state and educational funds, the university has reverted leadership back to former President Kent Fuchs on an interim basis, no comment has yet emerged from the Board of Governors in response to these reports.
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