If voters approve the ballot initiative, it would generate an estimated $8.5 billion in new state revenue by temporarily increasing the personal income tax on those earning $250,000 or more, and by raising the state sales tax by one-quarter of a cent for four years.
Opponents of the measure contend it would harm small businesses and note that a temporary sales tax increase would affect everybody, not just the wealthy.
If the measure fails, UC and the California State University system will each face mid-year "trigger cuts" of $250 million in state funding. Moreover, UC will lose an additional $125.4 million in 2013-14 that was promised on the condition that the university not raise tuition for the current academic year.
The so-called "tuition buyout" was included in the 2012-13 budget approved by the governor and legislators following an intensive effort by students, regents and university supporters to persuade lawmakers to make higher education a budget priority.
But if voters do not pass Proposition 30, the university likely will be forced to institute a mid-year tuition increase of as much as 20 percent, shut down or consolidate academic programs, freeze hiring and lay off employees.
The AAUC is the representative body of the 1.6 million alumni of the university. Its voting members are the four members of the UC Board of Regents that represent alumni, and the presidents of the alumni associations of each UC campus. The AAUC's mission is to enrich the lives of alumni and engage them as volunteers, advocates and contributors who strengthen the University of California.
Although regents and members of the AAUC have endorsed Brown's revenue measure, UC faculty, staff and administrators are legally prohibited from using state resources, time or equipment to lobby either for or against any ballot measure or political candidate. The university can, however, share factual information about any initiative's impact on the university. Members of the UC community are free to participate in political activities on their own time and using their own resources.