Leaked state budget proposal fails to meet UC’s funding requests
By Daily Bruin
Jan. 8, 2014 7:45 p.m.
A leaked version of Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2014-2015 budget proposal does not show an additional increase in funding for the University of California beyond the amount set in a previous agreement with the state.
The proposed budget would instead increase funding to financial aid programs and incentivize the state’s three higher education systems to develop cost-effective approaches to higher education.
The state previously promised the University a 5 percent base increase to its general fund, equivalent to about $142 million, after tax measure Proposition 30 passed voters in 2012 and the UC maintained a tuition freeze.
At a UC Board of Regents meeting in November, UC officials expressed hope that the California legislature would further increase funding, by as much as $120.9 million.
Under the budget proposal leaked by the Sacramento Bee, however, the UC would not receive any additional state funds aside from the 5 percent it was already promised.
The proposal also includes a new awards program that would dole out money to state college campuses or systems that increase the number of in-state students who earn a bachelor’s degree, improve four-year bachelor’s degree completion rates and make it easier for community college students to transfer to four-year colleges.
The proposed budget allocates $50 million for this program, titled Awards for Innovation in Higher Education.
The budget proposal also includes an increase of $107 million to begin implementation of the Middle Class Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to students whose families earn less than $150,000 annually.
Additional state funds would be used to grow and expand access to the Cal Grant program.
In terms of higher education funding, the proposal expresses the governor’s wish to move away from tying state funding to enrollment targets.
Brown is scheduled to unveil his proposal on Friday, but because of the leak there has been some speculation that he will release it Thursday instead.
Compiled by Katherine Hafner, Bruin senior staff.
