State & UC News

2008-2009 State Budget: The governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2009 was released on January 10: it includes across-the-board cuts in state spending, including at the University of California and the California Community Colleges to address a projected $14.5 billion state budget deficit. The governor's proposal would increase funding under his "compact" with the UC system, but then apply a reduction of $332 million, or 10 percent for the UC budget, which is the same percentage proposed for most state General Fund programs. If this proposal is adopted as final, UC would be left with a net state funding reduction of $109 million, or 3.4 % less than the current 2008 fiscal year. This plan would also leave state funding more than $400 million less than the UC Regents' proposed budget for 2008-2009. For further details on the 2008-2009 State Budget, read the UCOP Newswire.

2007-2008 State Budget: The 2007-2008 State budget, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 24, includes funding for student enrollment, faculty and staff compensation, academic preparation programs, and key research initiatives at the University of California. Under the final spending plan, UC's state-funding budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 will total $3.27 billion, an increase of $196 million or 6.4 percent over the prior year.

Though the governor vetoed a few UC programs, he supported the rest of the UC budget as adopted by the Legislature, fulfilling the terms of his "compact" with the university. The governor preserved $19.3 million in state funding restored to the budget by the Legislature for student academic preparation programs, to improve the academic achievement and college preparation of students in many of California's disadvantaged public schools. This action continues the 2006-2007 state funding level for these programs.

The budget assumes the increased student fee levels approved in March by the Board of Regents for the 2007-2008 year: 7 percent for resident undergraduates, academic graduate students, and most professional school students. However, a substantial proportion of this fee revenue will be returned to financial aid to preserve UC's affordability for students.

"As we look back over another year of success for Puente and our students, I am reminded that we have faced challenges and survived many economic cycles over the past years. Our co-founder Felix Galaviz often stated that Puente had survived because of its effective program design and high level of dedication and commitment from its team members, staff & community supporters. This is so true and I want to acknowledge this strong & creative support."
— F. Garcia, Puente Executive Director