There was good news for the CSU in Governor Gray Davis' $88.1 billion budget for 2000-2001, including a $244 million increase in the CSU's support budget -- a 10 percent increase over last year. Approximately half of these funds cover increases in the CSU's general operating expenses. They also provide us with funds for long-term needs such as technology ($15 million), library collections ($3 million), and deferred maintenance ($2.8 million). The support budget also includes increases to fund the CSU's projected enrollment target of 4.5 percent ($81.9 million).
The Governor's budget also includes a five percent compensation pool for all CSU employees, with the actual distribution of these funds to be determined through the collective bargaining process. The five percent pool included in the CSU support budget will allow the CSU to continue to make progress in closing the CPEC faculty salary gap.
As a result of the Governor's strong emphasis on teacher recruitment and training, the CSU's support budget was increased by $9 million to enhance the CalTeach program. The CSU established this program to recruit new teachers to address the state's teacher shortage, particularly the shortage of credentialed teachers for our public schools. The Governor's budget also includes $3.5 million for the Governor's Teacher Fellowships program, which will help prospective teachers pay for their education.
In addition to the overall CSU support budget, the Governor's budget included $2.1 million for the development of electronic commerce in rural communities. This program will be administered by California State University, Fresno. President John Welty recently convened a committee of campus faculty and administrators to discuss the design and implementation of this initiative as he continues to work out the details of the project with the state secretary of trade and commerce.
The Governor's budget will make its way through the Legislature over the next few months. The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) has provided an analysis of the budget which is available on the Internet at http://www.lao.ca.gov/. A budget surplus of approximately $6 billion is expected to have a signi-ficant impact on the revised budget in May.
The CSU's legislative agenda for 2000 will also include efforts to secure $15 million in additional funding for strategic programs that meet special state needs, such as agriculture, computer sciences, biological sciences, engineering, and nursing.
On February 14, 2000, the Academic Senate of California State University, Fresno voted in support of several initiatives on the March ballot that will impact the higher education community:
Proposition 13 - Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Act. This act provides for a bond issue of $1.9 billion to provide funds for a safe drinking water, water quality, flood protection, and water reliability program. Placed on the ballot by the Legislature, Proposition 13 also includes a $3 million allocation to establish a water research institute at Fresno State.
Proposition 15 - The Hertzberg-Polanco Crime Laboratories Construction Bond Act of 1999. This act provides for a bond issue of $220 million dollars to provide funds for a program for the construction, renovation, and infrastructure costs associated with the construction of new local forensic laboratories and the remodeling of existing labs. Proposition 15 will have an impact on the crime lab at CSU, Los Angeles.
Proposition 26 School Facilities. Local Majority Vote. Bonds. Taxes. This initiative authorizes local voter approval by majority vote, not by the current two-thirds vote, for school construction and improvement bonds. The CSU Board of Trustees also has voted in support of Proposition 26.
Additional information on these and other ballot measures may
be found at http://Vote2000.ss.ca.gov/VoterGuide.
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