Gov. Hobbs: U of A president's pay cut 'a step in the right direction'

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is meeting with regents leaders and University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins Wednesday, said Robbins’ newly announced pay cut is “a step in the right direction.”

“I think we need to see more in terms of cost-cutting measures,” Hobbs told reporters Tuesday. Asked if that means a deeper pay cut than the 10% Robbins announced Monday he will take, Hobbs responded, “I think it’s part of a whole picture of what we need to see in terms of cost cutting.”

Hobbs has demanded a private in-person meeting with Robbins and Arizona Board of Regents leaders. The meeting is set to happen March 6 with Robbins, UA’s interim Chief Financial Officer John Arnold, ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata and ABOR interim Executive Director Chad Sampson.

“I’m just looking to have a productive conversation and find a path forward to ensure that the university is on track for getting their fiscal house in order and that we can restore public confidence in the regents’ oversight,” Hobbs said.

She has publicly criticized ABOR and UA leadership twice since Robbins announced the university’s financial crisis in November. The UA is in a $177 million deficit.

The governor declined to say Tuesday how confident she was in the president’s leadership.

“I’m looking forward to a productive conversation tomorrow,” she said, dodging the question asked twice by reporters about whether Robbins can steer the university out of its financial crisis. “I think that they’ll hear from me what I need to continue to see. And I’m hopeful we can move forward.”

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In a statement released in late February, Hobbs blasted then-ABOR Chair Fred DuVal for sending a cease-and-desist letter to UA Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson. Hudson had accused DuVal of a potential conflict of interest because of his time serving as managing director of Amicus Investments in between his two terms as a regent.

DuVal has since stepped down as leader of the board, though in his statement announcing his resignation, did not mention the accusations.

“That was his choice,” Hobbs said. “That request did not come from me.”

KJZZ previously reported that a spokesperson for the governor said she was exploring whether she had the authority to remove ABOR members, who oversee the state’s three public universities.

“I’m not looking to do that at this moment,” Hobbs said Tuesday. “Right now we’re moving forward with the board as it is.” DuVal remains on the board.

As governor, Hobbs has an automatic seat on ABOR herself, though governors typically do not attend the board’s meetings on a regular basis. Asked if she’s going to start taking a more active role on the board, Hobbs responded, “My staff is very engaged at the staff level with what’s happening at the regents.”