GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Ben Sasse, the former president of the University of Florida, spent over $1.3 million on private catering for extravagant dinners, football tailgates, and social events during his first year in office, according to a report from Fresh Take Florida, a news service associated with the university.
This spending was about twice what his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, spent in his last year. Fuchs returned temporarily to lead the university after Sasse announced his resignation in July. For more details, check the report from Fresh Take Florida here.
Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, explained that he left the job to care for his wife and spend more time with his family. He plans to return to the university as a professor.
The findings from Fresh Take Florida come on the heels of an earlier report by The Independent Florida Alligator. That report revealed that Sasse hired six former staff members and two past officials of the Republican party at salaries much higher than typical for similar roles. Most of these individuals did not relocate to Gainesville, Florida, where the university is based, but instead worked remotely from far away.
In total, Sasse’s office spent $17.3 million in his first year, starkly contrasting with Fuchs’ $5.6 million spending during his last year. The university’s overall budget is about $9 billion, according to the Alligator.
A spokesperson for Sasse mentioned in an email on Friday that she was not authorized to discuss his spending practices.
Last December, Sasse hosted a lavish holiday party that cost $176,800 for around 200 guests. Attendees enjoyed fresh sushi, hand-rolled by two dedicated chefs, alongside traditional dishes like beef and chicken, plus various desserts. The bill for the alcohol exceeded $7,000.
It remains unclear whether taxpayer funds or donations covered all the catering costs associated with Sasse’s events.
