Legislation Seeks to Restore Community College Funding in California
WALNUT, Calif.
California Assemblyman Robert Pacheco, R-Walnut, pledged to amend legislation to restore some of the $126 million in community college funding cuts recently made by Gov. Gray Davis.
“I think it’s time community colleges stand up for what has rightfully been earned,” says Pacheco.
Pacheco announced to a crowd of community college staff, students, area community college presidents and media that he has amended Assembly Bill 1159 to restore $98 million for community college maintenance funding that was cut from the state budget by Gov. Davis last month.
“These cuts came as a complete surprise,” says Bill Feddersen, president of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
For Mt. San Antonio, those cuts mean $2.4 million less funding. The funds were to be used for maintenance and equipment such as computers, biology microscopes and physical education safety and first-aid equipment.
At the same time that the funding cuts have been introduced, the burden on community colleges has become even greater. The state’s financial support for community colleges is $4,700 per student compared to $7,000 per K-12 student, $11,000 per Cal State student, and $18,000 per University of California student. Meanwhile, the state’s community colleges enroll 1.6 million students.
“Community colleges have shown they are the workhorse in California education,” says Pacheco.
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