The governor and legislative leaders emerged from the governor's office on July 20 to announce they have reached a deal on a $25 billion budget revision. Both houses are expected to vote on the package on July 23. The plan cuts community colleges by $936 million in state general funds. The plan also increases the student fee to $26 per unit effective with the 2009 fall semester.
Even with $70 million in additional student fee revenue and up to $130 million in one-time federal funds, the cuts are the deepest in the history of California's community colleges. With booming enrollment from four converging forces--record high school graduates, redirected four-year students, returning veterans, and the newly unemployed--the budget will significantly constrain access and limit essential student services.
We are awaiting several details issues, including how the 2008-09 cuts will be implemented, now that that fiscal year is officially over. A state budget chart is available on the Community College League's website: www.ccleague.net and Below are the details as we know them.
Expected Cuts to Community Colleges
2008-09 General Cuts
Unallocated Reduction: -$85,000,000
Est. 2008-09 general apportionment shortfall: -$41,000,000
Est. 2008-09 property tax shortfall: -$42,100,000
Total general cut: -$168,100,000
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2009-10 General Cuts
Enrollment growth: -$175,213,000
Est. general apportionment shortfall: -$41,000,000(b)
Unallocated 2009-10 apportionment reduction: -$120,000,000(c)
Est. 2009-10 enrollment fee shortfall: -$21,200,000(d)
Est. 2009-10 property tax shortfall: -$53,400,000
Subtotal cuts; -$410,800,000
Est. student enrollment fee revenue (from $20/unit to $26/unit), beginning fall 2009: $70,000,000(d)
Total general cut: -$340,800,000
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2009-10 Selected Categorical Cuts: -$343,000,000
The budget makes deep cuts to categorical programs, which are expected to be partially backfilled by federal state fiscal stabilization funds. Below are some of the largest categorical cuts. (Program reduction indicates ongoing reductions and anticipated federal backfill is one-time funding.)
Basic Skills:
Program reduction -$10,592,000 (-32%)
Anticipated federal backfill 5,296,000
Career Technical Education:
Program reduction -$20,000,000 (-100%)(e)
Anticipated federal backfill none
Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE):
Program reduction -$5,110,400 (32%)
Anticipated federal backfill 2,555,000
Counseling, Placement and Assessment (Matriculation):
Program reduction -$64,776,000 (-62%)
Anticipated federal backfill 31,222,000
Disabled Students Programs and Services:
Program reduction -$37,908,000 (-32%)
Anticipated federal backfill 18,953,800
Economic Development:
Program reduction -$28,905,000 (-62%)
Anticipated federal backfill 13,932,000
Extended Opportunities Programs and Services:
Program reduction -$35,197,000 (-32%)
Anticipated federal backfill 17,598,000
Instructional Equipment & Scheduled Maintenance:
Program reduction -$27,345,000 (-100%)(e)
Anticipated federal backfill None
Nursing:
Program reduction -$7,072,000 (-62%)
Anticipated federal backfill 3,536,000
Part-time Faculty Compensation:
Program reduction -$31,400,000 (-62%)
Anticipated federal backfill 15,135,000
Special Services for CalWORKs Recipients:
Program reduction -$13,100,000 (-30%)
Anticipated federal backfill 6,537,000
Telecommunications and Technology:
Program reduction -$9,377,000 (-19%)
Anticipated federal backfill 4,397,000
