Gov. proposes more
cuts to UC
BY MARINA DUNDJERSKI
UCLA Today Staff
A proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stem the state’s
massive fiscal crisis — currently estimated by the Legislative
Analyst at a $15-billion annual operating deficit — would
cut funding to the University of California system by $33 million
this fiscal year and more than $92 million next year.
The midyear cuts, which require approval by the Legislature before
they can take effect, include:
- A one-time unallocated reduction of $18.4 million this year,
and a permanent $55.1 million reduction in 2004-05.
- Elimination of all state funding for K-12 outreach programs,
effective Jan. 1, 2004, representing a $12.2 million current-year
and $33.3 million full-year reduction.
- Reduction of all state funding for UC labor institutes, effective
Jan. 1, 2004, representing a $2 million reduction in the current
year, growing to $4 million in 2004-05.
The state Department of Finance has also asked all state agencies,
including UC, to make plans for possible cuts of 20% in 2004-05.
UC’s current state-funded budget is $2.9 billion, at a time
when it had been expecting to receive $4 billion from the state.
“We at the University of California recognize that we need
to play a role in the state’s solution to its budget gap,”
said UC President Robert C. Dynes. “At the same time, it is
important for all to recognize that every additional budget cut
to the University of California is a painful cut. We already have
taken deep cuts in previous budgets, leaving us with a 14% decrease
in state funding while our enrollments have increased 18%. Our ability
to preserve this institution’s world-class quality and continue
making a major contribution to California’s economy will be
compromised by these growing budget cuts.”
Dynes, once chief diversity officer at UC San Diego, said that
he was especially concerned with the proposal to eliminate state
funding for UC outreach programs.
“Improving student achievement throughout the public schools
remains a major challenge facing our state, and UC outreach programs
are making an important contribution to the effort,” Dynes
said. “Part of our mission as an educational leader in California
is to help integrate educational efforts across the K-16 system,
and our outreach programs have a proud legacy of doing so.”
Dynes said he hopes to have further discussions in Sacramento about
outreach.
Meanwhile, the Board of Regents, which met at UCLA on Nov. 19-20
amid student protests against the prospect of additional fee hikes,
approved guiding principles to maintain quality, access and affordability
as goals during upcoming budget negotiations.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the state budget, the regents
decided not to submit a proposed budget at this time.
Larry Hershman, UC vice president for budget, said this is the
first time in his three decades with UC that the regents have not
sent a budget request to the state Department of Finance in November.
As the regents discussed the principles, students who had gathered
outside the meeting room in Covel Commons became increasingly boisterous,
at times drowning out the regents’ comments. Dynes and several
regents spontaneously decided to address the group. “We’re
on the same team,” said Dynes, trying to assure them. |
