We're gratified that Gov. Brown is proposing an additional $90 million in funding for the University of California — an ongoing increase that the governor said can be used to address costs of employee retirement. We applaud the governor's willingness to grant UC leadership maximum flexibility in navigating these fiscal times, and also his recognition that, after a 20-year hiatus, the state has a responsibility to resume paying for a portion of retirement costs.
The administration's focus on protecting higher education from further budget reductions is a welcome relief, and the governor's stated desire for a long-term state investment is encouraging. It appears the governor is moving in the right direction after cuts totaling $750 million this year alone.
His proposal is only the first step toward a state budget for 2012-13. We will continue to make the case that public higher education is not a cost but the best investment an innovative state like California can make.
We will continue to seek out and implement administrative efficiencies that already are saving hundreds of millions of dollars a year — savings that go straight to our core mission. We also are working hard to identify alternative revenue sources that could help us preserve quality and access.
Finally, we intend to press forward with the governor and legislature to develop a long-term plan that would give the university much-needed financial stability, help the families of students and benefit Californians in every part of the state.