A lot of recent activity in Sacramento that could hurt UC faculty. Ian Kennedy, DFA Chair, has asked me to send out this quick summary.
First of all, the Governor professes to take from the special election results that Californians want to balance the state budget without any new taxes or borrowing. A "cuts only" budget. He released his budget proposal, called the May revise, followed almost immediately by two rounds of further proposed cuts (to compensate for shrinkage in the revenue forecast). UC has prepared a spreadsheet that explains the cuts. Please see attached.
Next, on May 27, five state legislators proposed legislation that would strip the UC Regents of the autonomy they have enjoyed since 1879. The revision to California's constitution (SCA 21 in the state Senate and ACA 24 in the Assembly) is backed by Senators Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) and by Assemblymembers Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) and Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge). The legislators are apparently primarily angry with UC's executive compensation practices. Their press release is available.
UC responded with an unusually strongly worded rebuttal, which begins: "It is absurd that Senator Yee and his co-sponsors want to rewrite the California Constitution to strip the university of its historic autonomy and place it under direct control of the state Legislature. Given the current $25 billion hole in the state budget and the political paralysis that chronically plagues Sacramento, tossing a 10-campus public research university that is the pride of California and the envy of the world into the Sacramento mix should be a non-starter." The full press release is available.
Then, on May 29, UC President Mark Yudof sent a letter around announcing a 5% pay cut for UC senior managers. The pay cuts will apply to about 30 positions and will start with the next fiscal year - July 1. Ominously, Yudof said in his letter "Given the magnitude of the budget shortfall, all options need to be considered, and, unfortunately it is likely that every member of the UC community will be affected negatively."
President Yudof is scheduled to attend the state legislature's Conference Committee on the Budget meeting tomorrow. CUCFA Vice President Joe Kiskis will also be attending. We will notify you all of any issues of note that arise.
- Eric.
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