Easy Enough to See Through UT's Claims of Transparency

Image via Wikipedia

It wasn't too long ago that the University of Texas System blocked me from having access to the account balances of its presidents' deferred compensation accounts, which cumulatively have to be worth millions (see Zemanta box below).  Now, UT administrators are blocking the Austin American-Statesman from seeing its IRS tax filings.  Truly, this "public" institution has forgotten that it is, indeed, a public institution.  Click on the highlighted text below to view the entire article from which the accompanying excerpt is taken:

UT System won't release tax returns

The system describes its online accountability report as "a national model" of conveying information to the public on everything from graduation rates to financial aid. And when Colleen McHugh was elected chairman of the system's Board of Regents last month, she immediately issued a statement reaffirming the board's "shared commitment to transparency and excellence."

But the UT System is opaque when it comes to the annual tax return it files with the Internal Revenue Service. The return lists income unrelated to the educational mission, such as leasing of university-owned property for retail stores, rental of halls for concerts and operation of certain recreational sports programs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Texas Ag Denies Access to Ut Execs' Deferred Comp Balances (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Paying for Uthsc Houston President's Commuting Costs From Pa (reamy.typepad.com)
• Article Profiles New Ut Board Leader (reamy.typepad.com)