Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled his proposed state budget for the 2013-14 year this morning – a budget he said places greater emphasis on K-12 and higher education than years past.
Brown also announced during a press conference that, for the first time since the recession, California does not face a budget deficit heading into the 2013-14 fiscal year.
Brown’s budget allocates $25.8 billion toward total higher education funding – including about $250 million for the University of California.
The $250 million figure is comprised of several parts. The state promised the UC an additional $125 million last year as part of a tuition buyout in which the UC Board of Regents agreed to not raise tuition during the 2012-13 school year. Brown has proposed another $125 million for the system. This funding proposal is an almost 11 percent increase in state funding for the UC since last year.
[Updated at 6 p.m.: The UC released a statement in response to Brown’s budget proposal.
“The leadership of the University of California is grateful that Gov. Brown is proposing re-investment in higher education,” said Patrick Lenz, the UC vice president of budget operations, in the statement.” After absorbing nearly a billion dollars in state funding cuts during the past five years, we see his budget proposal as a very positive step forward in a process that will unfold over the next several months.”
Though the proposed funding is greater than the 2012-13 year, the money is still less that the amount the regents requested from the state. According to the UC website, the UC requested $150 million in addition to the tuition buyout to help cover the University’s budget gap.
The UC still faces a $150 million budget gap, said Dianne Klein, a UC spokeswoman.]
“Our future depends on disproportionately funding those students that have disproportionate challenges,” Brown said at the press conference.
In the budget, Brown also emphasizes the development of online courses and technology in higher education. He proposes $10 million each to the UC and California State University systems for the development of these ideas, included in the additional $125 million.
The proposed budget may change in May when the governor releases his “May Revise,” and a final budget will need to be approved by the Calif. legislature in June before being implemented.
Compiled by Katherine Hafner, Bruin senior staff.
“Brown’s budget allocates $25.8 billion toward total higher education funding – including about $250 million for the University of California.”
This is why its important to proofread. The UC will only get $250 million? Wildly incorrect.