Last Thursday, Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed 2012/13
spending plan.
The plan includes no obvious cuts to the CSU but does include a
$200 million “trigger cut” if a ballot initiative to increase
taxes on sales and the wealthy is voted down in November. Beyond
that potential cut, the Governor included a number of proposals
to shift the funding source from which CSU mandatory costs would
be paid.
On July 30, California's State Legislature approved a state
budget with at least $150 million in funding cuts to the
California State University. The budget also allows for more
triggered cuts if revenue to the state falls below projections.
These budget reductions come on top of $500 million in cuts
enacted in March.
CFA President Lillian Taiz, a professor of History at CSU Los
Angeles, said of the budget deal, "As the number of
college-educated Californians drops because fewer people can
afford to go to college, our state’s economic prospects decline
as well."
Despite slashing $650 million each from the California State
University and University of California, lawmakers also hit two
systems up this summer to loan the state some cash.
Senate Bill 79 established a new investment fund for UC, CSU,
California Community Colleges and the Judicial Council. Under the
bill, the UC loaned the state $1 billion while the CSU fronted
the state $700 million—a total of $1.7 billion in public
university funds. They expect to earn a return from the state,
apparently more than they get elsewhere but less than the state
would have to pay Wall Street.
The Civil Rights Project at UCLA invites faculty to a State
Policy Briefing on "The CSU Crisis and California’s Future."
The event will take place Wednesday, June 15 from 1:30-3 pm at
the UC Center in Sacramento, 1130 K Street.
At this event, leading scholars present research findings on a
series of reports designed to analyze the impact of fiscal
cutbacks on opportunity for higher education in the California
State University system.
Two faculty members and one CFA staffer were among 26 people
arrested during civil disobedience actions at a budget protest at
the State Capitol May 12.
Faculty members, staff and students at CSU Stanislaus, Fresno and
San Bernardino held events last week demanding that Central
Valley and Inland Empire legislators “Stand up for California”
and for higher education.
After $1 billion in cuts made to the CSU and University of
California systems earlier this year, Governor Brown’s budget
plan calls for maintaining current revenues so California won’t
have to make even deeper cuts to education that is so critical to
our future.
Scores of protests, rallies, teacher sit-ins and grade-ins, and
town halls are part of a statewide “State of Emergency” campaign
week led by a coalition of education supporters this week across
California.
Educators, parents, public safety workers and community leaders
from across California will hold actions next week to publicize
the local impacts of more than $18 billion in state budget
education funding cuts during the last three years, and an
additional $4 billion this year unless California’s citizens rise
up to tell the legislature, “Enough is enough! No more cuts!”
Just two days after the governor declared negotiations
were dead with Republican lawmakers on getting his tax
extensions to voters, Gov. Jerry Brown issued a 12-point “pension
reform” plan.
California’s lawmakers officially voted for devastating cuts to
public higher education and other vital state services in an
attempt to solve the state budget crisis.
The state legislature adopted an $84.6 billion spending plan last
Thursday but put off voting on the two most controversial budget
bills – one to eliminate redevelopment agencies and another to
call a special election to extend taxes.
These actions solve about $14 billion of the state's total $26.6
billion shortfall.
Students, faculty and educators plan rallies and demonstrations
across the state Wednesday to show lawmakers and the public that
higher education is the engine of economic growth and social
equity in California.
These events follow up the massive demonstrations that occurred
throughout the country on March 4 last year and come in response
to the devastating budget cuts enacted on higher education.
The California State University has lost some $1 billion, let go
more than 3000 faculty, slashed course offerings and hiked
student fees repeatedly in recent years.
A study published last week by the UCLA Civil Rights Project
found that more than three-quarters of students surveyed at CSU
Northridge believe a lack of classes will delay their graduation.
A new report released last week by CFA reveals a damning new
account of how the CSU Administration has misused millions of
dollars in state funding at a time when the CSU has been pummeled
by the budget cuts.
The report was released in support of language in the governor’s
proposed budget plan that says funding cuts to the CSU will be
handled through targeted reductions that “have a minimal impact
on CSU student access and educational opportunities.”
Following the launch CFA’s online reporting
form for CSU waste, tips are already coming in about how
taxpayer dollars are being misspent by campus administrators.
A new report released this week by CFA reveals a damning new
account of how the CSU Administration has misused millions of
dollars in state funding at a time when the CSU has been pummeled
by the budget cuts.
The report was released in support of language in the governor’s
proposed budget plan that says funding cuts to the CSU will be
handled through targeted reductions that “have a minimal impact
on CSU student access and educational opportunities.”
The Governor’s budget proposal would reduce the state general
funds allocated to the CSU to $2.29 billion in 2011/12, 12.5%
less than the 2010/11 budget act.
This proposal would reduce state support for the CSU
dramatically. However, since the the CSU Board of Trustees have
increased CSU student fees so aggressively in recent years total
funds available to the CSU system would be 4.5% lower.
