Leaks and (Maybe) Disappointment? Wednesday, June 29, 2022
The contemporary budget process no longer has the drama of years ago when there could be lengthy delays after July 1 - the start of the fiscal year - in getting an actual agreement between the governor and legislature. In those days, failure to come to an agreement would cause crises as the state was increasingly unable to fund various services. Nowadays, thanks to voters who made it possible to enact a budget with a simple majority and thanks to the one-party dominance of the state, such things don't happen. Nonetheless, there is a period following the mid-June deadline for the legislature to enact a budget and the governor to sign it in which there are leaks of information about what the legislative leaders and the governor are agreeing to in detail. We are in that period. So, you probably know from news reports that there will be a rebate to most taxpayers that is supposed to be an offset for inflation.* (The proliferation of rebates - whatever they are called - has to do with the Gann limit on state revenue.) But what about higher ed? The latest leak is that there will be an enhancement of the Cal Grant program.** There is reason to believe UC was disappointed with what seemed to be on the table in mid-June when the legislature enacted a "budget." Here is what UC President Drake said at that time:
University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., today (June 13) issued the following statement on California’s 2022-23 budget: The University of California is grateful to the state Legislature for passing a state budget that strengthens the University and enhances its impact on the lives of Californians. The University will continue to engage with the Governor and state legislative leaders to ensure a final budget agreement reflects our shared priorities for higher education and student success in California. Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-statement-2022-23california-budget. The expressed need to "continue to engage" suggested some disappointment in the enacted budget. Now you might wonder how continuing to engage could add anything to the enacted UCLA Faculty Association Blog: 2nd Quarter 2022
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