They also seemed Monday to see the U.'s point that such salaries are necessary to keep staff in light of higher salaries available elsewhere in the national competition for academic and administrative talent.

What they'd like to understand better, however, is how such compensation might be linked to the dividends U. President Michael Young says these administrators bring as a result of their talent.

"Let's use revenue these people generate to pay their salaries instead of taxpayers' dollars," said Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville.

Speaking Monday before the Legislature's Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, U. President Michael Young conceded Holdaway's point. "If I could tie these more clearly together, that's certainly what we'd like to do," Young said.

The exchange followed a presentation by Young justifying U. Medical School Dean Lorris Betz's $735,000 salary. Lawmakers on the committee had little in the way of questions for Young and representatives of the Utah System of Higher Education. A salary equity study was prepared for presentation and discussion in case the dialogue turned to finer details, or even contention.

Young's defense of the U.'s administrative salaries was similar to a presentation he gave three weeks ago before the U.'s Academic Senate.

"The point is simple, really," Young said Monday. Revenue to the university is "$800 million higher than when I arrived four years ago," he said. "I wish I could take all the credit for that, but it is a consequence of the team I've put in place. I could certainly hire people for less. I think it would be a dramatic disservice to this state."

bfulton@sltrib.com