Auditor faults administrative pay at University of Missouri

The state auditor says the University of Missouri System approved $1.2 million in performance incentives for top administrators over the last three years without clear criteria.

A report issued Monday by Auditor Nicole Galloway found that the university paid several top administrators much more than was reflected in their publicly viewable salaries, including $407,000 in vehicle reimbursements for 15 top officials in 2015 and 2016.

The report comes after protests on the Columbia campus in fall 2015 led to the resignations of university system President Timothy Wolfe and Columbia campus Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.  Galloway's report said the university's handling of Loftin's resignation was "irresponsible."

Loftin was reassigned to a research administrator position that the audit says isn't "supported by the strategic plan of the UM System or the Columbia campus." He is being paid $344,250 per year.

In a statement emailed to 41 Action News, UM said the school "followed the provisions that were outlined in Dr. Loftin's original contract when he was appointed chancellor."  A separate statement posted on the UM System's website said Galloway's audit shows the system "follows sound business practices and accounting standards."

------

Follow 41 Action News on Twitter:

Follow @41ActionNews

Like 41 Action News on Facebook: