Legislature Reinstates UC Cuts, But Fee Hikes Remain

Clarification Appended

The California state budget was passed by the legislature Tuesday, restoring proposed cuts in funding to a number of UC programs, although fees will rise as planned.

The budget restored $19.3 million in funding to UC academic preparation programs as well as $6 million in funding for labor research centers. It also meets the compact between the governor and the university, providing a four percent general fund increase.

“It does meet the compact and we do greatly appreciate the support the governor and the legislature have demonstrated for public higher education in this budget process,” said UC spokesperson Ricardo Vasquez.

The general fund increase amounts to $116.7 million in funding that will go toward the university, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson in the state Department of Finance. In addition, $52.9 million is allocated in the current budget to fund an increase in enrollment, Palmer said.

Although the state budget as it stands meets the compact, the fee increase enacted by the regents in March will not be changed. The regents will make any necessary technical changes to the university budget at their September meeting, Vasquez said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to consider and finalize the budget, which was passed after a long standoff in the legislature, by the end of the week.

“We are hopeful that the funding levels for UC that were adopted by the legislature will be preserved by the governor in the final budget,” Vasquez said.

Palmer said the governor has said he will veto an additional $700 million in the budget to bring the state out of a deficit, but added that Schwarzenegger has no plans to violate the compact.

“The final budget, even after his veto, will still fulfill all the conditions of his compact,” he said.

Many are pointing to the fee increases as a major fault with the budget despite the restored funding to some key programs.

“Getting it communicated that fee increases are not good for the state, for California families, not good for future students ... we just need more voices mobilized,” said Oiyan Poon, University of California Student’s Association president.

Poon said she hopes students and university officials will lobby state leaders more this coming year, starting especially when the governor’s proposed budget is released in January.

Clarification: August 27,2007
The headline and first paragraph of the article may have implied that the funding cuts were reinstated. In fact, the cuts were reversed and the funds were reinstated.

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