

2010-11 Community College Budget
Budget Overview
Confronting a budget deficit of almost $20 billion--comprised of a current year shortfall of $6.6 billion, a budget year shortfall of $12.3 billion, and a reserve of $1 billion--on January 8 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made public his proposed budget for 2010-11. He summarily declared a fiscal emergency, and called the legislature back into Special Session to deal with the crisis.
The budget proposes solutions that will close $8.9 billion of the budget gap. The Governor has asserted that delays in the adoption of these proposals until the enactment of the 2010‑11 budget will result in the loss of up to $2.4 billion in budgetary solutions and thereby necessitate even deeper cuts in 2010‑11.
BUDGET UPDATE! January 11, 2010
Provides $126 million to fund enrollment growth of 2.21 percent (about 26,000 new full-time students)
Reduces funding for apportionments
and select categorical programs by $22.9 million to
account for a negative cost of living adjustment (COLA),
computed at 0.38%
Cuts $10 million from Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)
Cuts $10 million from Part-time Faculty Compensation
Increases Career-Technical Education by $20 million
Maintains all categorical cuts and flexibility allowances approved in 2009-10
Does not backfill the $35 million in federal funds provided this year to ease the cuts.
Proposes student fees be maintained at $26 per unit
Makes technical changes to accommodate and backfill reduced property taxes and other budget year revenue shortfalls
Acknowledges, but does not backfill, student fee revenue shortfall of $10 million in the current year
Proposes suspension of the competitive Cal Grant Program with no new awards providing beginning in fall 2010
What Does This Mean? Talking Points:
Even with funding the 26,000 additional full-time student enrollment, community colleges will have to prioritize basic skills, transfer, and career technical enrollment
The negative COLA fails to recognize that during the past two years over 10% in statutorily guided COLAs has not been provided
The proposed elimination of the competitive Cal Grant program will hurt the 44,000 community college students currently using these grants of $1,551 for their textbooks, transportation and supplies
Colleges will be placed in the position of having to spend one time reserve funds to maintain those programs they choose to prioritize.
Detailed Community College Budget Proposal
To read details from the section of the proposed budget dealing with the Community Colleges, click here.
Proposed Major Program Changes
For a detailed look at the proposed program changes, click here.