Credit: José Luis Villegas / AP Photo

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during his inauguration at Plaza de California in Sacramento on January 6, 2023.

Credit: José Luis Villegas / AP Photo

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during his inauguration at Plaza de California in Sacramento on January 6, 2023.

Despite California’s $22 billion budget shortfall, the state’s four-year college system will receive an additional year of funding for 2023-2024 under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal announced Tuesday. will receive

Newsom proposed a 5% increase in base funding for the University of California and California State University. This means he will fully fund his second year of the multi-year deal he introduced last year. Under the agreement, Newsom will provide a 5% annual budget increase to the university system as long as the system shows improvement in graduation rates, makes universities more affordable, and increases enrollment for California residents. promised His 5% increase in 2023-24 equates to his $215.5 million increase in UC ongoing funding and his $227.3 million increase in CSU.

“We’re keeping that promise. We’re not going to back off on it,” Newsom said at a news conference Tuesday.

The state’s system of 115 campus-based community colleges will also see increased funding under the proposed budget. This includes his $652.6 million adjustment for cost of living additions in the General Fund’s proposed $98. Newsom also provided new funding to help colleges retain students amid declining enrollments across the system. Despite the loss of hundreds of thousands of students to the pandemic, community colleges haven’t lost money as the state is enforcing his “detoxification” protection through 2025.

But California’s higher education system wasn’t completely spared on Tuesday.Newsom’s proposal sees overall funding for higher education drop slightly by 2.1% to $40 billion. This is a result of Newsom delaying funding of capital projects, including the construction of affordable housing across the university system. Newsom did not provide a funding proposal for the new capital project.

However, UC and CSU leaders said on Tuesday they were grateful that Newsom maintained its 5% base funding increase.

“This proposal reinforces the administration’s commitment to CSU, belief in our mission, and appreciation for our success in transforming the lives of Californians, despite the uncertainty surrounding the state’s economic situation. It’s a thing,” CSU interim president Jolene Koester said in a statement.

Michael Drake, president of UC Systems, said Newsom’s support for UC was “genuinely insane” at a time when state revenues were declining.

Newsom may have decided not to increase funding to UC and CSU, according to H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the governor’s Treasury Department. In choosing to keep his promises, Palmer said, “It reflects his belief that it is important not only for the predictability of UC and CSU funding, but also for the reforms the agency is undertaking to move forward.” It’s tied to that guaranteed extra funding.”

Newsom has proposed deferring an expected $250 million in funding to help build and renovate affordable housing projects. The funds are part of the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, which funds community colleges, CSU, and the UC system to build student housing and make commercial real estate affordable for low-income students. Or convert it into a house.

Newsom also proposed delaying the creation of student housing revolving loan programs to three higher education systems. That program would have raised him $1.8 billion in one-time funding over two years, starting this year. Instead, Newsom will provide the program with $650 million in 2024 and $1.15 billion in 2025, based on this latest proposal.

Congressman Mike Fong, D-Alhambra, the new chairman of Congress’ Higher Education Commission, was disappointed by the proposal to delay funding for housing projects.

“It is disappointing to see that some of the progress we have made in addressing housing issues for college students has been delayed. is important,” Fong said in a statement. However, he added that UC and CSU’s base funding has increased, and that the community is pleased that the college’s cost of living has been adjusted.

Funding of capital projects at UC under Newsom’s proposal, including $200 million for the construction of an immunology and immunotherapy laboratory at UCLA, will also be delayed. He gave $83 million to support clean energy projects at the University of California, Berkeley. $83 million for campus expansion projects at UC Riverside and UC Merced.

Newsom’s budget also changes how the state pays for CSU’s construction projects. The state initially hoped to pay cash for his $404.8 million capital project, which was approved by Congress last year, but the lack of revenue forced it to fund it through bonds issued by CSU. decided to borrow. The governor’s budget gives CSU her $27 million to fund bond repayments.

For community colleges, in addition to a $652.6 million increase in general funding, the budget includes $28.8 million in Proposition 98 funding to cover expected enrollment increases on some campuses, Includes an additional $92.5 million to help reconcile costs of living for various programs. The entire university system, including adult education programs.

Newsom is also looking to help community colleges cope with declining enrollment. Universities have lost about 18% of their enrollment since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Newsom has proposed giving the system another $200 million to enroll new students and retain existing students.

The governor’s budget also includes a request for state community colleges to enter into dual admission agreements with the state. K-12 district in the area. It also requires all colleges to develop at least one of her volunteer-type courses accessible to all high school students through dual enrollment to promote community volunteerism and civic engagement.

“The governor’s proposed budget protects education during times of economic uncertainty,” Daisy Gonzalez, interim president of the Community College System, said in a statement. , builds on the strengths of California community colleges, and concurrent participation in community colleges builds partnerships that connect traditionally underrepresented high school students to college opportunities, helping colleges attract and attract students. We will build on our ongoing efforts to help keep them on track.”

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