State & CSU Budget Update


Click here for information about the Budget and Kennedy's Music Program

Another thing you can do is attend the upcoming Fiscal Emergency Town Hall this Saturday, May 10th, from 1PM – 3PM at Marshall Middle School , 5870 E. Wardlow Rd. , Long Beach , CA   90808 , hosted by Assembly Member Warren Furutani.  A number of legislators will be present.  The forum will look at the impact of potential budget cuts on the state and allow for opportunities for those attending to voice concerns about possible budget cuts, explore alternatives and strategies to budget cuts, and connect with other organizations against the proposed budget cuts.  Please attend.

AUHSD Budget Information Alliance for the CSU
California State Budget
CSULB Information

Portion of an email from F. King Alexander, President, CSULB:

Specifically, to close a $16 billion deficit, the Governor has proposed a 2008-09 state budget with across-the-board spending cuts.  The $386.1 million reduction proposed for the CSU comes only three years after deep cuts of more than $500 million, from which we have not yet recovered.  Those cuts resulted in significant reductions in student access and a dramatic increase in student fees.  The new cuts proposed by the Governor, if approved by the Legislature, will have lasting implications for the CSU, our students, the economy, and the future of California.

This draconian budget proposal will not only hurt CSULB and other CSU institutions, but it will ultimately damage California's future economic growth by failing to fund increased student collegiate access while also limiting the availability of many courses to existing students. Unfortunately, the irony of this budget proposal is that it is being debated at a time when California has never needed more college and university graduates to build a competitive "knowledge-based" economy. In fact, according to the recent report, Californians and Higher Education, published by the Public Policy Institute of California, 9 out of 10 residents from all political, regional, and demographic groups say that California’s higher education system will be very important to the quality of life and economic vitality of the state over the next 20 years.

Furthermore, the proposed California State Budget not only fails to fund increased student access and opportunities, but it does not provide additional funding for basic "externally driven" mandatory cost increases such as health care. Also of great concern is the fact that funding for much needed compensation increases for our committed faculty and staff has not been included in the proposal. In aggregate, the California State University's 23 campuses face a proposed budget impact of $312.9 million for 2008/09. The Governor's proposed 10 percent budget cut will mean a loss of $16 million for CSULB. This is not only a short-term issue for CSULB and other CSU institutions, but it is a long-term issue for all Californians.

The CSU is a vital provider of graduates into the state's workforce and the budget cuts will have an impact on key industries in California.

● CSU graduates nearly 90,000 students into the state's workforce each year.

● CSU supplies the majority of the workforce in key industries including nursing, teaching, agriculture, business, public administration and technology.

● Nursing − 64%
● Business − 65%
● Agriculture − 52%
● Life sciences − 44%
● Education − 87%
● Public Administration − 82%
● Criminal Justice − 89%

● For every dollar the state invests in the CSU, $4.41 is generated in economic activity.

As mentioned earlier, the proposed budget cuts will impact student access to the CSU because not all qualified students will be admitted. Although the CSU has asked for revenue to increase enrollment by 2.5 percent or 10,000 students for 2008/09, this is not included in the proposed budget.

● That means that 10,000 qualified students will not have the opportunity to attend a CSU because we will not be able to offer them a slot at any CSU campus.

Another direct impact of the proposed budget cuts will be that system-wide multiple efforts designed to increase college-going rates of underserved communities in California will suffer drastically. Two-thirds of the current pipeline of students in K-12 are from underrepresented backgrounds, and it is critical to the state's future that more students from underserved communities attend and complete college.

● The CSU has experienced an increase in enrollment of first-time freshmen from underserved communities over the past few years as a result of our partnerships with K-12 and community-based organizations.

We need the support of everyone in the CSU to face down these proposed cuts. By urging the State Legislature, we may be able to turn the tide on the proposed budget. Please let your California State Assemblymember and State Senator know that you support CSULB and the CSU. Your support is vital to protecting what has made California an international economic success story.

We hope that you will join us in voicing your concerns by visiting www.csulb.edu/ogcr , clicking on "Advocacy @ The Beach" and then by sending your own email message or letter by regular mail to your local legislator. Let your representative know that the proposed 10 percent cuts will undermine California's economy and thousands of students who excelled in school in good faith would be denied admission if the proposed cut is not rescinded.

The CSU simply cannot absorb the proposed budget reductions without seriously affecting our ability to deliver our educational mission.  There is still time to stop the cuts.  We ask you to join us in sending a strong message to the Governor and the Legislature:  Because the CSU is the solution to California’s troubled economy, we must fund the CSU budget!

Should you have questions, we welcome your call at 562-985-8816. Please send a copy of your email to advocacy@csulb.edu or fax to 562-985-8761. Your support is greatly appreciated by everyone in the CSULB and CSU family.

F. King Alexander
President, California State University, Long Beach