Budget Crisis in California

Most probably know of the budget crisis in California; we all know of the crisis in our country.

But how is affecting your education?

Advocates, statewide, have been contributing all of their efforts during these desperate times; the dedication of countless hours over many months has ensured that community colleges are not affected.

Among the successfully defeated this passed year are:

  • proposed 5% apportionment cuts;
  • proposed $30-40/unit student fees, with the benefit going to the state general fund and not students;
  • proposed differential funding for physical education and arts classes;
  • proposed elimination of Competitive Cal Grants, which is financial aid for our neediest students;
  • proposed 20.2% cuts to categorical programs including technology, part-time faculty support, foster care and child care.

Among the many highlights for community colleges are:

  • 2008-09: Eliminates the approved 0.68% cost-of-living adjustment (-$39.8 million).
  • 2008-09: Reduces state funding for mandates (-$4 million).
  • 2008-09: Defers $340 million in state payments to the 2009-10 fiscal year (replacing $245 million deferral approved in existing 2008-09 budget; minimizes state borrowing and reduces Prop. 98 guarantee).
  • 2009-10: Funds 3% enrollment growth ($185.4 million), enough funds for 36,000 new full-time equivalent students.
  • 2009-10: Maintains funding for the Competitive Cal Grants program, which provides 22,500 grants annually to needy non-traditional students.
  • Generally: Since there were no categorical or general apportionment cuts, language to allow categorical flexibility was not included.
  • Future: Places a measure on the next statewide ballot (now scheduled to be May 19) to repay K-12 and community colleges $9.3 billion over seven years beginning in 2011-12.

State Budget for Community Colleges

Issue

2008-09
Budget Act

2008-09
Revised

2009-10
Approved

General apportionment

$5,714,006,000

$5,714,006,000

$5,827,506,000

Cost-of-living adjustment

$39,780,000

$0

$0

Enrollment Growth

$113,500,000

$113,500,000 (2%)

$185,400,000 (3% incl for EOPS, DSPS, and Matriclulation)

Academic Senate for the Community Colleges

$467,000

$467,000

$467,000

Apprenticeship

$14,641,000

$14,641,000

$14,641,000

Basic Skills

$33,100,000

$33,100,000

$33,100,000

CAHSEE

$10,000,000

$10,000,000

$10,000,000

Career Technical Education

$58,000,000

$58,000,000

$58,000,000

Child Care Tax Bailout

$6,836,000

$6,836,000

$6,836,000

Disabled Students Programs and Services

$115,011,000

$115,011,000

$115,011,000

Economic Development

$46,790,000

$46,790,000

$46,790,000

EOPS

$106,786,000

$106,786,000

$106,786,000

CARE

$15,505,000

$15,505,000

$15,505,000

Equal Employment Opportunity

$1,747,000

$1,747,000

$1,747,000

Foster Care Education Program

$5,254,000

$5,254,000

$5,254,000

Fund for Student Success

$6,158,000

$6,158,000

$6,158,000

Matriculation

$101,803,000

$101,803,000

$101,803,000

Nursing

$22,100,000

$22,100,000

$22,100,000

Part-Time Faculty Compensation

$50,828,000

$50,828,000

$50,828,000

Part-Time Faculty Health Insurance

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

Part-Time Faculty Office Hours

$7,172,000

$7,172,000

$7,172,000

Physical Plant and Instructional Support

$27,345,000

$27,345,000

$27,345,000

Special Services for CalWORKs Recipients

$43,580,000

$43,580,000

$43,580,000

Student Financial Aid Administration

$51,269,000

$51,269,000

$51,269,000

Telecommunications / Technology Svcs / C.V.U

$26,197,000

$26,197,000

$26,197,000

Transfer Education and Articulation

$1,424,000

$1,424,000

$1,424,000

Mandate Reimbursement

$29,000,000

$3,000

$3,000

Prior-year unspent balances

$3,547,372

$0

$0