Gov. Gray Davis made no additional cuts to the University of California in the May revision of the 2003-04 budget in light of deficit projection that has increased by over $3 billion since January.
“”The governor has said all along that education was his top priority,”” a Davis spokesperson said. “”Funding for UC was high on the governor’s list of things to protect while faced with making more cuts.””
Davis’ May revision includes a $300 million reduction to the university and a proposed $795 per year increase to UC student fees. The UC Board of Regents had planned on voting on whether to approve the increase at its May 14 meeting, but delayed any action because of uncertainty surrounding the coinciding release of the new budget proposal. UC officials were pleased no further cuts were made.
“”We are very grateful to the governor for placing a priority on public education in this time of great financial distress for the state,”” said Lawrence C. Hershman, UC Vice President for Budget, in a May 14 statement. “”The governor clearly recognizes the major role UC can play in stimulating California’s economic recovery, and he shares our view that we must continue providing access for all UC-eligible students.””
Since the 2001-02 fiscal year, the University of California has suffered almost $1 billion in cuts to State-University Partnership and core funding.
In his 2003-04 budget proposal, Davis reduced funding to administration and libraries by $36.5 million while making a $29 million across-the-board reduction to research. If Davis’ budget is approved, $33 million would be cut from educational outreach programs.
Resident undergraduate student fees would be raised by $795 yearly in addition to the $405 annual increase enacted in Spring 2003. Before the Regents approved the $405 increase in January, student fees at the university had not been raised since 1994.
About one-third of the money generated by the proposed increases would be funneled back to student financial aid, UC officials said. The fee increase would be covered for by grant-eligible students, or about 40 percent of all UC undergraduates. Students who come from families earning between $60,000 and $90,000 per year are eligible to have one-half of the proposed increase covered by UC Fee Grants.
While UC officials are satisfied that no further cuts were made to the university in the May revision, they remain skeptical that no additional cuts will be made as other state lawmakers have drafted budget proposals that call for between $80 million and $400 million in additional cuts.
“”The even further cuts contained in the proposals from the legislature would do great harm to the university and could lead to additional student fee increases, constraints on new enrollments starting in 2004-05, or both,”” Hershman said in a May 14 statement. “”We will vigorously oppose these additional cuts.””
Along with the University of California, the May revision also made no additional cuts to the California State University’s funding. About $160 million were restored to California Community Colleges and $700 million were restored to K-12 schools.
The state constitution mandates that a budget be passed by June 15 to be enacted on July 1.
