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Brookdale Community College, Bergen County College, and Union County College and Essex County College among alleged abusers

BY CHRISTINE VALDEZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Tuition money is supposed to pay for students’ education but in several community colleges in New Jersey that doesn't seem to be the case.

Bloomberg News reports that multiple New Jersey community colleges paid for their presidents’ perks such as housing allowances, country-club memberships and more.

Three of the state's 19 community colleges paid their presidents more than $300,000 a year according to a report from Comptroller Matthew Boxer. Along with the $300,000, 12 colleges gave housing allowances of about $3,500 a month.

According to Bloomberg, Boxer’s statement mentions that Brookdale Community College reimbursed it’s president $41,000 to send his children to four universities. Over at Bergen County College, it’s boss charged the company credit for meals, liquor and entertainment totaling approximately $16,660 back in 2010.

“There are huge disparities in not only the salaries of community-college presidents, but other forms of their compensation as well,” said Boxer in a statement. “ We’re not suggesting a one-size fits-all approach, but it’s appropriate to set boundaries when schools are spending taxpayer dollars.”

The statement released by Boxer also mentions that in 2010 the then president of Union County College was paid $441,000 and received full pay and benefits; meanwhile someone else was paid to do his duties. At Essex County College in Newark the president had a base salary of $245,250 and a $3,500 monthly housing allowance with the use of a Lincoln MKZ luxury sedan. The school also paid more than $20,000 for her move to Florida and other expenses.