California's community colleges may not have been severely cut under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2004-05 budget proposals, but faculty across the state are nevertheless angered that the governor reneged on a $2 billion promise he made to educators and students only a year ago.

 

 

Last year, California's schools and community colleges sacrificed $2 billion in ongoing cuts because the governor promised that schools would receive their fair share of any additional state revenues and would be spared cuts in future years. This year, however, the governor has backed down on his promise.

 

"It is absolutely unconscionable that the governor would not repay the $2 billion he borrowed from education funding last year," said Cathy Crane-McCoy, president of the Community College Association.

 

"The governor's plan to cut another $2.3 billion from California schools goes against the will of voters in this state who approved Proposition 98, fails our students, and breaks the agreement approved by the Legislature last year," Crane-McCoy said.

 

California's schools, including community colleges, have suffered more than $9.8 billion in cuts in the last four years, Crane-McCoy noted. "Our system is badly underfunded as it is."

 

 

Like their K-12 counterpart, community colleges will suffer further if the governor's proposal to dismantle education-funding protections in Prop. 98 is approved. Prop. 98, approved by voters in 1988, guarantees a minimum level of funding in the state budget to schools. The governor proposed to eliminate the Maintenance Factor, which is the mechanism within Prop. 98 that allows schools to be repaid when education funds have been cut. Not only would the proposal permanently cut $3.9 billion from public education, the changes would allow for multiple, automatic, across-the-board cuts when the state budget is not balanced.

 

Even though student fees would remain stable and community colleges would receive an increase of $195.5 million (or a 3.93 percent) cost of living adjustment as well as an increase of $136.7 million (or a 3 percent) in enrollment growth, there are other egregious aspects to the governor's budget plan.

 

One of those proposals would be to eliminate the current defined retirement plan and replace it with a risky 401K-style retirement system.

 

"We oppose any changes to the retirement system that will make it more difficult to attract and keep quality instructors," Crane-McCoy said. "Besides, there is no reason to think that the governor's proposals would save the state or local governments any money."

 

The governor's budget proposals will now be turned into legislation. In May, the governor will issue a revised budget based on a more complete revenue picture.