News
Regents Oppose Proposition 92
January 4, 2008
The University of California Board of Regents voted at their November, 2007 meeting to oppose Proposition 92, an initiative on the Feb. 5 ballot in California.
The 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.
Meeting at UCLA, 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, 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.
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.
Read the text of the Regent's resolution here.
The Regents’ vote to oppose the initiative was 15-0, with Student Regent Ben Allen and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi abstaining.
Proposition 92 is sponsored by Californians for Community Colleges – a coalition comprised of the Community College League of California, the California Federation of Teachers, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges and the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild.
Supporters of the initiative include the California School Employees Association; the Sacramento Metro Chamber; the North Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO; the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; the California Community College Association; and several members of the state Legislature. For more information, visit: www.prop92yes.com
Opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce, California Teachers Association, League of Women Voters of California, Small Business Action Committee, California Business Roundtable, California Taxpayers Association and California Faculty Association. The California State University Board of Trustees also voted this week to oppose the measure. For more information visit: www.noprop92.org
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