New UC faces funding cuts

In its annual report released Wednesday, the state Legislative
Analyst’s Office recommended cutting proposed funding for the
University of California’s newest campus in Merced, a move
that could delay the campus’s opening.

A base funding of $10 million is issued to UC Merced each year.
This year, the university asked for an extra $10 million in
anticipation of its opening next year.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger included a $20 million allotment for
UC Merced in his budget proposal.

The LAO, however, recommended cutting the extra $10 million in
its report because it says neither the UC nor the governor’s
office has justified the extra funding.

“It’s not about how our office is against it. No one
has given us any information,” said Anthony Simbol, spokesman
for the LAO.

Each year, the LAO, a nonpartisan group, assesses the
governor’s budget plan and makes recommendations for
legislators.

The university, however, is confident that the proposed funding
will come through, said Patti Istas, spokeswoman for UC Merced.

The LAO has made a similar recommendation about UC Merced
before. The office files its reports before receiving the
university’s report because of differences in their
deadlines, Istas said.

UC Merced sent plans to justify its funding in early February to
the UC Office of the President. The analysts start their report
immediately following the governor’s proposal in January.

“They will be receiving that information. We are working
closely with many legislators in Sacramento … showing them the
many advantages of having a UC in the Central Valley,” Istas
said.

UC Merced’s presence, even without the 1,000 students it
is intended to serve, has helped many local businesses in the
Central Valley, Istas added.

Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, wants the UC to submit a full report
to the LAO so the office can inform legislators of the needed
funding, said Nick Rappley, Denham’s press secretary.

UC Merced was supposed to open this year but had its opening
delayed until 2005 because of budget cuts made over the summer by
Gov. Gray Davis’s administration.

Funding for construction at the campus will not be affected.