University of Costa Rica spends millions on wage perks

Salary incentives -- known locally as "pluses" -- can boost salaries of staff such as receptionists and drivers to as much as $5,000 a month at the public-sector University of Costa Rica, according to prominent politician Otto Guevara.

"Pluses" at UCR came to $127 million in 2017, according to the Comptroller's Office. In all, universities in the public sector spent a total of $216 million in that year, out of a total budget of $790 million.

The information on the generous salaries provided by UCR sent alarm bells ringing within the government and among legislators, who are doing their best to tighten reins on public spending, reports La República in Spanish.