The attorney general has released his opinion on UCA’s use of cash funds — from a bookstore and food service — to pay a $300,000 bonus to President Lu Hardin. The question is academic now, since Hardin has repaid the money.

But the answer, as expected, is that cash money is public money and, though not appropriated, subject to all the usual laws that apply to public money. It is not private money and thus may not be used to provide a bonus beyond statutory limits to public employees. Summary on the jump. This is the link to the full opinion.

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