UC Tuition Could Soar Under Worst Budget Scenario

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- University of California tuition could soar next year if Gov. Jerry Brown's state budget plan doesn't pan out.

   School administrators told the UC Board of Regents Wednesday the university would likely have to raise tuition 32 percent for the winter 2012 term if the state doesn't extend temporary tax increases as Brown proposes.

   Under that scenario, California residents would pay nearly $15,000 in tuition to attend one of UC's nine undergraduate campuses.

   The governor has already signed legislation reducing support for UC by $500 million to roughly $2.5 billion for the coming fiscal year.

   When Brown issued his revised budget proposal Monday, he warned that UC could lose another $500 million if the state does not extend the taxes. So far he doesn't have enough Republican support for his plan.

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)