If Gov. Brown’s tax initiative is not passed by the voters in November, Fresno State and the rest of the 23-campus California State University will face more budget cuts, which will mean slashing enrollment, laying off employees, reducing classes and eliminating academic programs.
Those options were discussed at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach on Tuesday, March 20. CSU officials as well as leaders on each campus are planning for a potential $200 million “trigger” cut from the state that would take effect in the middle of the academic year if voters do not approve the governor’s tax proposal.
“Increases in student tuition fees have not made up for drastic state funding cuts to the CSU,” said Robert Turnage, CSU assistant vice chancellor for budget. “The university system is still a half-billion dollars in the hole, and if this trigger cut goes into effect, we will be at the same level of state funding as 1996, but serving 90,000 more students.”
Fresno State President John D. Welty, who attended the trustees’ meeting, will report to faculty and staff on Thursday about the campus’ planning for the trigger cuts and the plan for enrollment reductions in 2013-14 that could result.
Questions should be directed to Student Affairs.
More info at CSU Budget Central.
