State legislature passes budget proposal calling for cuts to UC

[Updated at 10:10 p.m.:
A Democratic budget proposal passed today by the state legislature could result in a double digit tuition increase for University of California students if it is signed by the governor.

The plan calls for $300 million in cuts to the UC and California State University systems, as well as $3.4 billion in deferred payments to K-12 schools, community colleges and the UC. These deferred payments would force schools to borrow funds to maintain their programs, as actual payments would be pushed back to the next fiscal year.

It is unclear whether Gov. Jerry Brown will sign the proposal, as he said he would oppose such a budget during his campaign. Once the plan reaches his desk, he has 12 days to make a decision.

UC President Mark Yudof and UC Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould called the cuts “unacceptable” and said they will continue to fight the plan. In a statement, the UC leaders said the budget threatens the long-term future of the UC since the plan does not provide stable or sustainable funding.

The UC system has already absorbed $500 million in cuts and that further hits to the university would affect affordability and accessibility for students, said Steve Montiel, UC spokesman, in an email statement.

With the help of a new constitutional change, Democratic lawmakers were able to push the plan through without Republican support. Lawmakers only needed a majority vote, instead of the two-thirds quorum that was necessary in the past, a result of a constitutional amendment passed by voters in November.

Legislators were also bounded by another new law that denies lawmakers pay until they balance the budget, which possibly gave them more incentive to pass a plan.

The budget’s on-time approval marks the first time in 25 years that a state budget was determined on deadline.]

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