CSU System to enroll 10,000 Less Students
California spends about $47,000 per inmate in state prisons, while spending less than $8,000 per California State University student. Yet, the CSU is slated for a $500 million cut next year — an approximately $20 million cut for Fresno State. In the meantime, prison spending is proposed to remain essentially flat.
Students and their families along with administrators and educators are collectively holding their breathe as they brace for massive budget reductions at every campus in the California State University, University of California and Community College Systems. Time is running exceedingly short on getting voter approval for the much needed tax extension to support higher education. Administrators are increasingly concerned of even more severe cuts to education if the states do not extend the taxes.
Under the current plan of Jerry Brown the higher education system could both lose roughly $500 million in state funding while the 112 community colleges in California may lose $400 million.
If CSU loses $1 billion, the state Legislative Analyst's Office recommends that CSU reduce enrollment by 5 percent, raise tuition by 10 percent and cut staff compensation by 5 percent. Any tuition hike would come on top of a 10 percent increase already approved for the fall 2010 term.
Call the CA State Senate today and tell them to give their constituents a vote by putting Governor Brown's tax extensions on the ballot.
Below is the list of target senators. Don't know who your State Senator is? Click here and find out.
| CA 001: | Ted Gaines | 916-651-4001 |
| CA 004: | Doug La Malfa | 916-651-4004 |
| CA 012: | Anthony Cannella | 916-651-4012 |
| CA 014: | Tom Berryhill | 916-651-4014 |
| CA 015: | Sam Blakeslee | 916-651-4015 |
| CA 017: | Sharon Runner | 916-651-4017 |
| CA 018: | Jean Fuller | 916-651-4018 |
| CA 019: | Tony Strickland | 916-651-4019 |
| CA 029: | Robert Huff | 916-651-4029 |
| CA 031: | Robert Dutton | 916-651-4031 |
| CA 033: | Mimi Walters | 916-651-4033 |
| CA 035: | Thomas Harman | 916-651-4035 |
| CA 036: | Joel Anderson | 916-651-4036 |
| CA 037: | William Emmerson | 916-651-4037 |
| CA 038: | Mark Wyland | 916-651-4038 |
Under our law, a minority can block. And if they block there will be devastating cuts to our schools, our local police services and other things that people don't want. But that's just the way it is. And maybe over time we can correct it, I don't know how, maybe through some initiatives, whatever.
~ Jerry Brown
References
CA Representatives. (n.d.). CA Representatives. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp
Chea, T. (n.d.). CSU to enroll fewer students amid budget cuts - Forbes.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/22/business-us-california-university-cuts_8369463.html
GovernorBrown. (n.d.). YouTube - Governor Brown Signs Budget Cuts 3.24.2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCWcQozq5rQ
Hefner, P. (n.d.). Torlakson Warns Districts to Plan for the Worst - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education). Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr11/yr11rel23.asp
Reed, C. (n.d.). FresnoStateNews.com » Blog Archive » CSU Chancellor calls for investment in education. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2011/03/csu-chancellor-calls-for-investment-in-education/
sacbee.com. (n.d.). Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown hints at 'initiatives' if budget talks fail. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/03/jerry-brown-hints-at-initiativ.html#mi_rss=Capitol%20Alert
SacStateVideo. (n.d.). YouTube - CSU Budget Concerns. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxVu6Np6-wA
