Educators Hail Deukmejian for Keeping Pledge

Less than two years ago, Gov. George Deukmejian was labeled a “Scrooge” by one teachers union official, reflecting the view of many in the education business that the governor was a tightwad who cared little about the problem of California’s schools and colleges.

But now, after proposing another double-digit increase in funding for public schools and state universities, Deukmejian was being hailed by most school officials Thursday as a man who has kept his promise to make education his highest budget priority.

Education expenditures account for 56% of Deukmejian’s budget proposal, up from 49.2% in 1982-83, the last budget prepared by former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Increase of $5 Billion

The $18.9 billion that the state plans to spend for education in the 1985-86 school year represents an increase of more than $5 billion over the 1982-83 total.

“No matter how he got there, the facts are that (Deukmejian) has backed up his pledge to make education his top budget priority,” said state Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig.

Next year, the state will spend an estimated $3,065 per child in the public schools, an amount that should bring California up to the national average in school spending, Honig said.

Professors at the University of California will get an 8.8% salary raise, while those at the 19 California State University campuses will receive a 10.5% boost, enough to keep both groups at or ahead of comparable university systems in other states.

Meanwhile, fees for students will be held steady under the governor’s plan.

For the nine UC campuses, the budget includes everything from more money for scholarships and lab equipment to new or expanded facilities for engineering programs at UCLA, Irvine and San Diego and a law school addition at UCLA.

“As far as I can see, the University of California got everything it asked for,” said William Pickens, budget analyst for the state’s Commission on Postsecondary Education, and the Cal State system did nearly as well, he added.

Community Colleges Last--and least in the eyes of its officials--were the community colleges, which, by the governor’s estimate, will get 8.7% more next year. This nearly $140-million increase in the budget for the 107 community colleges includes $36 million in lottery money.

Deukmejian estimated that the new state lottery will yield $300 million in its first year, only about half of what was projected during the campaign to enact Proposition 37. In most areas, the governor’s budget planners kept the lottery funds separate from the regular budget, noting that the revenue total is unpredictable.

If the projected lottery money is removed from the community colleges, the proposed increase in their budget amounts to about 6.5%.

“I’m generally disappointed,” said Gerald Hayward, chancellor of the California community college system.

“The budget includes some positive items,” he said, citing a $32-million fund to aid districts like Los Angeles and Compton, which are suffering severe enrollment drops. Deukmejian also added $3 million to help more minority students at two-year colleges transfer to UC or Cal State.

Beginning of Battle “But there’s no money to catch up for the tremendous losses we’ve suffered,” Hayward added. “We have to view this as just the beginning of the budget battle.”

Los Angeles community college officials were even more disturbed.

“As far as we’re concerned, this budget doesn’t show the colleges are a No. 1 priority,” said Norm Schneider, spokesman for the Los Angeles community colleges.

“Compared to UC and CSU, it’s neither fair nor adequate. And we think our need is greater than theirs,” he added. “A 6% increase will barely keep our heads above water.”

Schneider said Los Angeles college officials have not yet had a chance to project how much money would go to the nine campuses. The state aid is distributed based on enrollment.

Money for Education Governor Deukmejian’s proposed budget would raise money for all education programs in California by 10.8%, from $17.0 billion to $18.8 billion. Education accounts for 56% of the total proposed $33.6-billion state budget. Education Money--General Fund and Local Revenues (In thousands of dollars)

Proposed % Increase 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 from ‘84-85 Category Allocation Allocation Allocation to ‘85-86 Univ. of California $1,110,012 $1,475,147 $1,634,333 12.2% CalState 947,995 1,151,552 1,266,950 10.0% Comm. Colleges 1,416,689 1,614,475 1,754,490 8.7% K-12 10,983,000 12,376,400 13,693,600 10.6% Other Costs 114,712 494,986 609,492 23.1% TOTAL 14,572,408 17,044,470 18,878,855 10.8%