Cal State trustees approve budget; protesters rally outside Long Beach headquarters [Updated]

The California State University's Board of Trustees today approved a 2010-11 budget that seeks $884 million in state support to bolster a system struggling to recover from severe funding shortfalls.

The trustees, who were meeting in Long Beach as their UC counterparts gathered at UCLA, adopted the budget plan with little discussion, a day after it was approved by their finance committee. About 100 protesters gathered outside the Cal State headquarters, marching in a circle, chanting and carrying signs urging the trustees to "Stop the Program Cuts Now" and "Stop the War on Higher Education." The demonstrators did not disrupt the meeting.

The budget plan requests $305 million to restore one-time cuts imposed in 2009-10; $283 million to restore money for collective bargaining agreements not funded in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and $296 million for mandatory cost and compensation increases and improvements in student services and instruction.

The budget plan would increase Cal State’s general fund support from $2.3 billion to $3.2 billion. [Updated 1:59 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said the budget plan would increase Cal State’s support from $2.3 million to $3.2 million.]

State support for the 23-campus system has been slashed $625 million over the last two years, resulting in staff and faculty furloughs, reduced enrollment and student fee increases.

-- Carla Rivera in Long Beach

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Comments

[pasadena jag]

I'm a trustee of one of the state college foundations. On campus, the ATM machines take a $3 fee if a student withdraws $20. The college takes a commission. Talk about a scam and the college administration approves of this. Its time not to fire professors but the overpaid useless administrators - most of them I've met are over 60 and should retire!

[Krystal Peak]

I think you were intending to write $2.3 billion - $3.2 billion -- not million

[rachel]

education is the key to return the usa to world leadership. our inner city students struggle with substandard high schools hoping to get a shot at a college education an be a part of the american dream. please don't take the state school away from those who need it most. you are making cal state unaffordable!

[Burbank Bob]

Education is the most important asset that any country or state can have. We are moving toward making education a privilege for the elite with all the increases in tuition the past 10 years. The more the underprivileged sense there is no hope of moving up in our society the more dangerous and volatile our lives will become and hence the more we will have to spend on prisons. Our leaders need to start realizing that our priorities are reversed right now and spiraling us downward as a nation.

[cal state student]

I just hope they don't increase tuition again! But the UC regent just agreed to increase tuition to UC students so I'm sure the Cal State system will soon follow =(

[KarenVB]

I wonder why Arnold Schwarzenegger left the state and the country this week?