Election Update: On Feb. 5, 2008, California voters rejected Proposition 92 by a 57.6%-to-42.4% margin.
November 15, 2007
University of California Board of Regents votes to oppose Proposition 92
The University of California Board of Regents voted on November 15, 2007, to take a position of opposition on Proposition 92, a state initiative on the February 5, 2008 primary ballot.
The proposed 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.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Proposition 92 would require the state to spend more for K-14 education than under current law – nearly $1 billion over the next three years.
The 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, in their resolution, the 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:
“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.”
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.
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