California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a state spending plan today (June 16) that would have deepened the cut in financial support for the University of California by another $150 million for the coming fiscal year.

The university already is enacting a series of program reductions and other painful measures to absorb a cut of $500 million, a drop of roughly 16.4 percent in state general fund support.

University of California President Mark Yudof and Board of Regents Chairman Russell Gould sent Brown a letter today, just prior to the veto, urging him to reject additional cuts to UC beyond the anticipated $500 million.

"Cuts beyond those already enacted would have a severe impact on the university and the people it serves — including further tuition increases for the families for whom the promise of a high-quality yet affordable education in California seems to be fading," Yudof and Gould wrote. "In addition, because the budget still contains a multi-million-dollar structural deficit, it does nothing to alleviate the instability and unpredictability in funding that are the chief threat to the continued quality of the university."

UC's leaders, together with other advocates, have been working since January to press for a state budget that makes higher education a priority and offers UC reliable levels of support in the coming years.

Brown, in a press conference following his veto, said the spending plan sent to him by the Legislature was not a "balanced solution" for ending California's long-term fiscal crisis.

"It continues big deficits for years to come and adds billions of dollars in new debt," Brown said. He said he would continue to pursue legislative support for his plan to close the state's deficit through a combination of cuts and voter-approved tax extensions.

He said that he believes Californians do not want cuts to the university, "and rightfully so." That sentiment, together with public support for schools and public safety, will help win eventual voter approval for his plan, Brown said.

Carolyn McMillan is the managing editor for Internal Communications in UC's Office of the President. For more news, visit the UC Newsroom or follow us on Twitter.