It’s hard to believe that Gov. Reynolds and Legislative Republicans think it makes sense to borrow more than $1 billion dollars to pay for ongoing programs at the University of Iowa over the next 50 years.

Like a hedge fund, the University of Iowa will invest this borrowed money in the markets, in hopes of realizing large capital gains to both pay back the borrowed money to the investors and realize a financial gain to fund the university.

Like a home mortgage, every dollar that the university receives in an upfront payment will have to be paid back with interest over the next 50 years.

The plan relies on the performance of the markets to succeed. If for some reason the university cannot pay back the money, Iowa taxpayers will.

There’s no transparency in this secret deal.

Except for a handful of legislative leaders and the governor’s office, Iowans have been left in the dark about the financial details of this secret deal. The assets of the University of Iowa belong to Iowa taxpayers, not any board or unelected administrator.

We have not privatized the University of Iowa yet. Iowans deserve a far more transparent process and a timely sharing of the financial details of such a complicated long-term deal.

Iowans have had no opportunity to express their views on the final details of borrowing plan. Taxpayers deserve some straight answers to basic questions. Some of the questions include:

• How much money will need to be paid back?

• Who is financially responsible if the plan fails?

• Why does the University of Iowa continue to pay all the costs of staff, fuel and capital improvements to operate the utility systems?

• Why have Iowans been left in the dark?

This is no way to run a public university. This is not a long-term solution to fund higher education. Iowa taxpayers and University of Iowa faculty, staff and students deserve better.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom has represented Johnson County in the Iowa Senate for 20 years.