CSU trustees forecast next fiscal year

By Rory Sa

Wednesday’s California State University Board of Trustees revealed that the next two years would be interesting, to say the least, for students, staff and faculty members on all 23 CSU campuses.

The trustees meeting dealt with two issues: next year’s budget and this year’s propositions.

Trustees project ‘worst-case’ budget scenario

Budget officials at the trustee meeting warn that the cuts may force the CSU system to eliminate 20 percent of its budget, per orders from the state legislature, eliminating 111,000 students, 6,709 faculty members, 9,290 administrators and 53,673 classes.

In addition, the CSU system may be forced to raise tuition by 89 percent.

University President John Welty said the preliminary discussions were to describe possible steps that would be necessary to make up an estimated $543.5 million in funding, a fraction of the $8 Billion shortfall expected in the 2004-2005 California state budget.

“ I don’t believe that at the moment neither of those options are being seriously contemplated, but it’s looking to be very serious next year,” Welty said.

“ The primary step is to get additional support from state of California, and obviously it’s too early to be able to determine whether it’ll be forthcoming or not,” he said.

Trustees unanimously reject Prop. 54

The trustees also voted unanimously for the CSU system as a whole to oppose Proposition 54, the “Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin.”

The issue was placed on the trustees’ agenda by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. Bustamante, the democratic candidate in the recall election, is a member of the board of trustees.

Colleen Bentley-Adler, public affairs director for the CSU system, said the trustees only involve themselves in issues that will affect the CSU system directly. “It would impact information collection, which is required by law,” Bently-Adler said.

Prop. 54 would add an amendment to the California state constitution prohibiting state and local governments from using or collecting information on race, ethnicity or nationality.

Welty said he supports the trustee’s decision to oppose the proposed amendment to the California Constitution. “I’m pleased they took the action they did to oppose it,” Welty said.

The trustees will next meet in Long Beach on Oct. 31 to vote on a budget proposal for 2004-2005.