Significant Community College Funding Restored in May Budget Revise
California's 108 Colleges See Some Relief in Latest Budget Proposal
SACRAMENTO -- The California Community Colleges received some good news in the form of the May revise of the proposed 2003-04 State Budget Plan, released today in Sacramento by Governor Gray Davis. The latest draft of the state budget proposes a restoration of about $305 million in Proposition 98 funding for the 108 colleges.
Considering changes in other funding sources, such as fee revenues, the proposal adds $246 million to the budget proposed on January 10. This means that in place of a $530 million reduction from last year's Budget Act (10.5 percent), the system now faces a possible cut of $285 million (5.6 percent).
"Governor Davis deserves credit for taking significant steps to reduce the magnitude of the disproportionate reductions that he proposed for community colleges in January," said Thomas J. Nussbaum, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. "While items of concern remain, the Governor has clearly shown that he is listening, that he is willing to reconsider earlier proposals, and that he wants to do right by the community colleges and the students we serve. "
Specific changes from the January budget include:
A reduction in the proposed student fee increase, from $24 per unit to $18 per unit. (The current fee is $11 per unit.)
A $125 million reduction in general apportionment funding, instead of the $219 million reduction proposed in January.
Funding restoration for some of the major categoricals, including a restoration of $5 million for Matriculation, $36 million for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), and $36 million for Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS). Instead of the 45 percent reductions originally proposed for EOPS and DSPS, these programs are now only facing cuts of about one percent.
The May revise also proposes a further $14.5 million reduction to the Partnership for Excellence program. The budget for this program is now at $150 million - half of the $300 million allocated in the 2002-03 Budget Act.
Although Nussbaum expressed disappointment about the cuts to the Partnership for Excellence, he said that he was pleased that the overall package is clearly moving in the right direction. "In the bigger picture, the Governor has shown an intent to protect funding for public education. To accomplish this he proposes to address about $10.7 billion of the deficit in future years, implementing a 1/2 cent increase in the sales tax to finance this action. His proposals also hinge on the Vehicle License Fee being triggered in July or earlier, as well as the enactment of modest increases in income and tobacco taxes.
"The levels of funding proposed for public education won't be possible in the absence of these actions to adjust taxes. This is something we must help accomplish. The fight on behalf of our 2.9 million students is far from over, but we have gained significant ground."