Greg Fenves' SIX-FIGURE Inauguration (U.T. said would cost 28k)

"envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:21

What's a 760% cost overrun between cronies?!?

AUSTIN — The University of Texas at Austin spent more than $200,000 to inaugurate President Greg Fenves two months ago — more than seven times what it initially said it cost.

The university released an updated program expense sheet to The Dallas Morning News late Tuesday showing the event cost $214,474.27. The funds were covered by donations and gifts to UT-Austin.

In September, when The News asked about the anticipated costs just 10 business days before the event with an open records request,  the university released invoices showing a total cost of $28,000. In a letter accompanying those figures then, Margo Iwanski, assistant to the university’s vice president, said those invoices were the “final response” to the request.

A UT spokesman said the university cannot account for expenses before an event takes place and released what was available in September. Because The News requested the costs 10 business days before the event happened, the university said, it released what was accounted for beforehand. The entire event’s expenses were not accounted for yet.

“This is one of our signature events on par with commencement, Gone to Texas and Explore UT,” said J.B. Bird, the UT spokesman. “It helps set the trajectory of the new president. These signature events have some of the qualities of major concerts and theatrical productions, so they are expensive to put on. We like to do things big and bold here at Texas, and that includes the inauguration of new president.”

Bird acknowledged that the university should not have said in September that the response was final.

In the updated program expense sheet provided Tuesday, some line items alone cost more than $28,000. UT paid one company $91,150 to set up and run audio for the event. Another $24,000 went towards producing a video laying out Fenves’ vision for the university.

Read the expense report and full article here.

Beyond the obscene cost of the event, the other outrage is that U.T. lied in response to the September open records request.

Bottom Line: We wonder what the Lt. Governor thinks about U.T. throwing lavish parties at a time when they're raising tuition....