Feb. 2019 Advocate: Governor’s education budget proposal

STATE BUDGET REPORT

Governor’s 2019-20 January budget proposal increases education and community college funding

On January 10 Governor Newsom released his first budget proposal, which he is calling “California for All.” The governor’s education budget proposal includes increased funding for community colleges as well as K-12 and higher education, investments in early childhood education, and significant allocations to educator retirement systems. The total budget is $209 billion of which $144 billion is General Fund (GF). Proposition 98 is funded at $80.7 billion which is $2.8 billion over 2018-19. The Department of Finance is projecting a $21.4 billion surplus which is $6 billion more than the Legislative Analyst’s Office projected in November 2018.

Below is a summary of the governor’s main proposals for community colleges:

  • $402 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to cover a 3.46% COLA, enrollment growth, legal services for undocumented students and families and providing a second year of free community college tuition ($40 million is allocated to fund the free second year of community college.
  • $5 million one-time General Fund for the Chancellor’s Office to expand outreach on the California Promise.
  • Increase from $1,648 to $6,000 Cal Grant B new or renewal awards to help 29,000 students in higher education that are parents.
  • Student Success Allocation portion of the Student-Centered Funding Formula is capped at 10%. The initial Student Success Allocation element was to cap out at 20% in 2020-2021.
  • $10 million to provide legal services to undocumented and immigrant students, faculty and staff on campus.

From Ron Rapp, CFT Legislative Director