State budget proposal avoids cuts for UC

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By Sara Chon
Daily Bruin Contributor

Gov. Gray Davis released his 2002-03 budget proposal Thursday
that called for a nearly $3 billion cut in overall state-funded
programs ““ but it included a modest increase in funds for the
University of California.

At the same time, Davis acknowledged in a statement, the
proposed budget does not fully fund the Partnership between the UC
and the state. The Partnership is an agreement between the two
entities established in 1999 under which the state provides the
funds necessary for the UC to increase enrollment over the next 10
years.

“We have difficult decisions to make,” Davis said in
a letter to the California State Senate and Assembly. “We
will emerge from this economic challenge stronger still.”

The budget for the 2002-03 fiscal year showed that base-funds
for the UC and other higher education programs will not be reduced
compared to the 2001-02 year, and the tuition fees will not be
raised for the eighth consecutive year.

The budget proposal included an overall increase of $40.3
million toward the UC’s State General Funds that the
university uses to fund its programs.

UC President Richard C. Atkinson applauded the governor’s
budget.

“Gov. Davis has proposed a wise, far-sighted investment in
higher education for the benefit of the state’s overall
economic health,” Atkinson said in a statement.

Davis’ proposed budget also includes a slight raise in
base-funds for health and human resource groups and calls for cuts
in corrections and environmental protection programs. It does not
call for a tax increase.

The governor’s budget will be sent to the state
legislature in May and must be approved by both houses with a 2/3
vote, before the budget goes back to the governor for his
signature. The 2002-03 fiscal year will begin July 1.

Paul Mitchell, chief of staff for Sen. Elaine Alquist,
D”“Santa Clara, said that the most important thing is that
student fees for the UCs and Cal States have not increased.

“Our priority was to keep the fees from increasing, and we
are happy that this has been done,” he said.

Student fees for the UCs remain on a similar level as other
institutions throughout the nation. The average annual cost to
attend a UC is $16,314, but the majority of the fee is paid by the
state. Students pay $3,429 ““ about 21 percent of the total
cost.

Gov. Davis said his budget failed to keep with the Partnership
Agreement due to the economic hardships the state is facing.

The proposed 2002-03 budget accounts for a 1.5 percent increase
to the University’s State General Fund base instead of the 4
percent annual increase as promised under the Partnership.

Assemblyman Russ Bogh, R-San Bernadino, the vice chair on the
Committee on Higher Education, criticized Davis’ failure to
keep with the Partnership.

“The budget debate is not over. What Gov. Davis released
was only a proposal,” Bogh said.

“Given the hard times, the proposed budget does try to
keep higher education a priority, but the governor should meet the
contents of the Partnership Agreement and higher education should
be fully funded,” he said.

But other lawmakers were satisfied with the modest increase
nevertheless.

“The UCs are much better off than other state-funded
entities,” said Scott Svonkin, chief of staff for Assemblyman
Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood.

“With a $13 billion budget cut, anyone should feel lucky
to stay in the status quo. Many other entities will face a huge
cut, and the UC should shed a sigh of relief,” Svonkin
added.

UC spokesman Brad Hayward said that the UC can’t expect
all its programs to be fully funded in rough economic times.

“The budget shows that the governor still stresses the
importance of universities and higher education,” Hayward
said.

The governor’s budget also included:

“¢bull;$63.8 million for a 3.9 percent enrollment growth.

“¢bull;$8.4 million for summer instruction at UC Davis.

“¢bull;$4 million to accelerate the opening of the UC Merced
campus by fall 2004.

In addition to increasing funds for the UCs, Davis has proposed
a $279 million funding for projects he said will help provide many
new jobs within the UC through new buildings and research
programs.

Though many say the proposal reflected Davis’ effort to
keep education a priority in the agenda, and the UCs were largely
relieved at being able to maintain last year’s budget, some
continued to voice disappointment.

“It is disappointing that we won’t have enough
funding to increase the salaries for the faculty and staff, but
we’re still happy with the summary of the proposal,”
Hayward said.