The University of California Board of Regents today (Nov. 15) voted to take a position of opposition on Proposition 92, an initiative on the Feb. 5 ballot in California.

The measure, known as the Community College Governance, Funding Stabilization, and Student Fee Reduction Act, would establish a separate Proposition 98 funding guarantee for the California Community Colleges, as well as a separate enrollment growth formula. It also contains provisions to reduce student fees and alter the governance of the community colleges.

Meeting at UCLA, Regents expressed strong support for the University’s vital partnership with the community colleges and for the continued importance of effective collaboration between the UC system and the two-year colleges on issues including student transfer.

However, Regents also expressed concern that by increasing the Proposition 98 guarantee, the February ballot initiative could leave less state General Fund money available for discretionary purposes, including programs such as UC and the California State University that are not protected by state guarantees or mandates.

UC’s share of the state General Fund has fallen from 7 percent in 1970 to just over 3 percent today. Since 1990, the state’s contribution to the cost of education for each UC student has fallen 34 percent, from $15,830 to $10,370 in constant inflation-adjusted dollars.

Below is the text of the resolution adopted by the Regents:

“The Community College Governance, Funding Stabilization, and Student Fee Reduction Act will be on the February 2008 Presidential Primary Election ballot as Proposition 92. If passed by the voters, it would enact constitutional and statutory provisions to:

• provide a separate Proposition 98 funding guarantee for the community colleges apart from K-12 education;
• reduce community college fee levels while limiting future increases; and
• establish the California Community Colleges in the state constitution and specify the composition of its governing board.

“According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Proposition 92 ‘would require the state to spend more for K-14 education than under current law—an average of around $300 million per year’ from 2007-08 through 2009-10.

“Proposition 92 would be the latest in a long series of ballot measures that dedicate or ‘lock up’ an ever-greater amount and share of the state’s General Fund. It would restrict the ability of the Legislature and the Governor to set state spending priorities in the annual budget process at a time when the state is expected to face even larger budget deficits.

“The provisions of the initiative would be extremely difficult to alter. Changing the funding provisions would require a four-fifths vote of the Legislature. Under the formula in the initiative, community college fees could very rarely be increased, and, even when they could, a two-thirds vote of the Legislature would also be required.

“Proposition 92 requires more state funding and reduces student fees for one segment of higher education without regard to the needs of all of higher education. Since it does not create or identify any new revenue sources, unprotected state programs such as UC and CSU would be competing for a smaller share of available General Funds.

“Passage of Proposition 92 could result in a reduction in the University’s state-funded budget, which in turn could result in an erosion of University programs and services. It would limit fee increases for one segment of higher education while potentially increasing pressure to raise fees even further at UC and CSU to make up for unavailable General Funds.

“The University of California strongly supports the California Community Colleges. The Community Colleges’ educational mission is vital to educating the people of California and the University depends on the success of the community college transfer function for nearly a third of its undergraduate students.

“However, The Regents of the University of California, mindful of their responsibility for preserving, protecting, and enhancing the excellence of the University and the quality of education it provides, hereby express their opposition to Proposition 92, the Community College Governance, Funding Stabilization, and Student Fee Reduction Act on the February 2008 Presidential Primary ballot.”

The Regents’ vote to oppose the initiative was 15-0, with Student Regent Ben Allen and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi abstaining.

Proposition 92 is sponsored by Californians for Community Colleges – a coalition comprised of the Community College League of California, the California Federation of Teachers, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges and the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild.

Supporters of the initiative include the California School Employees Association; the Sacramento Metro Chamber; the North Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO; the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; the California Community College Association; and several members of the state Legislature.

Opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce, California Teachers Association, League of Women Voters of California, Small Business Action Committee, California Business Roundtable, California Taxpayers Association and California Faculty Association. The California State University Board of Trustees also voted this week to oppose the measure.

Additional background on the measure is available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/nov07/j2.pdf.

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