California Colleges Bracing For Deeper Cuts
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – California's revenue projections aren't likely to meet expectations, which has the state's community colleges and public universities bracing for another round of budget cuts.
As of July, state tax revenue was $539 million below projections and California Community College Chancellor Jack Scott said that means the budget axe is about to fall again on higher education.
KCBS' Susan Kennedy Reports:
"We could undergo $102 million in mid-year cuts," Scott said. "That would of course be rather disruptive."
The state's 112 community colleges have already seen a five percent cut and raised fees by $10 per unit. But if the state doesn't meet revenue projections, the system will have to raise fees another $10, cut the number of classes offered in the spring and some may not be able to offer summer session courses.
For the University of California and California State University systems, another $200 million in mid-year trigger cuts are expected.
Robert Turnage, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Budget for the CSU system said they'll be able to survive if the cuts are temporary.
"If it were a permanent decrease to the money that we get from the state, than it would be devastating," Turnage said.
A decision is expected in mid-December.
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