DeSantis, CFO call for investigation into high spending under ex-UF president Ben Sasse

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A month after the University of Florida’s president abruptly resigned, state officials are now calling for an investigation into allegations of exorbitant spending.

Nearly $17 million were spent in 17 months under former UF president Ben Sasse.

This has prompted Governor Ron Desantis’ office to investigate the spending.

Less than two years into Ben Sasse’s second term as a Nebraska Republican senator, he took the job as the university’s president.

About a year and a half into the job, he resigned, citing his wife’s ongoing epilepsy diagnosis.

“The big budget number jump from $5.6 million to $17 million really raised some questions,” said Garrett Shanley, university desk editor of “The Independent Alligator.”

UF’s student newspaper, “The Independent Alligator,” detailed spending more than tripled during Sasse’s first year as president compared to the university’s previous president, Ken Fuchs.

“We found he hired some of his former senate staff in positions at the university and two Republican officials,” Shanley said. “He allowed all but one to work out of the state and commute to the university when needed.”

The newspaper reported Sasse hired six former staffers and two former Republican officials with high-paying jobs.

Student journalists found travel spending skyrocketed under Sasse. Sasse’s office spent 20 times more than Fuchs — totaling to $633,000 in his first year.

Sasse has responded to the alligator’s report on social media, saying it’s “not true” and that he was “dang proud” of the new initiatives run out of the president’s office.

Desantis and Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, are both calling on the University of Florida to investigate the spending allegations using tuition and taxpayer dollars.

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