2008 Woodie Awards
Potential fee hikes in the works for California budget
Analysts say increase is one fiscal solution
Vikki Nguyen
Date created: 3/14/05 Section: NEWS
- Page 1 of 2 next >
An increase in community college fees from $26 to $33 per unit was one recommendation made in a report on the governor's budget proposal released by the California Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO).
The non-partisan LAO, reviews the budget and makes recommendations to the governor and legislators. The group is recommending the increase to assist in fiscally stabilizing community colleges.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not specify fee increases in his budget, released in January, and an increase is "not likely to go forward," said Jennifer Baker, the legislative advocate for the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. The FACCC represents faculty and staff of California community colleges and had a part in organizing the "March in March" in Sacramento in 2004 to protest the fee increases that hit students earlier this school year.
Scott Lay, Vice President and General Counsel of Governmental Relations at the Community College League, echoes Baker's idea that the fee increase is unlikely.
"Although the LAO is highly respected, they usually have very little impact on community colleges," Lay said. "I expect they will have very little impact on community college fees."
Due to California's deficit, the LAO included the recommendation for increased fees which, if implemented, are projected to add $100 million in revenue to the state general fund.
Even though there is no current formal increase in the budget, Schwarzenegger does have the opportunity to include a fee hike in his revision, which is expected to be released in May 2005, after viewing the LAO report.
Much of the uncertainty about student fees is due to the fact that, despite the attempts to devise a state fee policy, there is still none in place. "The state has made fee decisions based almost entirely on the state's fiscal situation-raising fees in bad fiscal times and lowering them in good fiscal time," according to a statement found on the LAO Web site.
The non-partisan LAO, reviews the budget and makes recommendations to the governor and legislators. The group is recommending the increase to assist in fiscally stabilizing community colleges.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not specify fee increases in his budget, released in January, and an increase is "not likely to go forward," said Jennifer Baker, the legislative advocate for the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. The FACCC represents faculty and staff of California community colleges and had a part in organizing the "March in March" in Sacramento in 2004 to protest the fee increases that hit students earlier this school year.
Scott Lay, Vice President and General Counsel of Governmental Relations at the Community College League, echoes Baker's idea that the fee increase is unlikely.
"Although the LAO is highly respected, they usually have very little impact on community colleges," Lay said. "I expect they will have very little impact on community college fees."
Due to California's deficit, the LAO included the recommendation for increased fees which, if implemented, are projected to add $100 million in revenue to the state general fund.
Even though there is no current formal increase in the budget, Schwarzenegger does have the opportunity to include a fee hike in his revision, which is expected to be released in May 2005, after viewing the LAO report.
Much of the uncertainty about student fees is due to the fact that, despite the attempts to devise a state fee policy, there is still none in place. "The state has made fee decisions based almost entirely on the state's fiscal situation-raising fees in bad fiscal times and lowering them in good fiscal time," according to a statement found on the LAO Web site.
Be the first to comment on this story