Plan Boosts School Funding, Asks Hefty Hike in College Fees : Education: Public schools would get 7.9% increase, community colleges 10.1%. Tuition at university systems would jump 24% to 40%.

California public school and community college educators were delighted by the favorable treatment they received in the 1992-93 budget proposal that Gov. Pete Wilson unveiled Thursday, but leaders of the public university systems had mixed feelings.

Although University of California and California State University officials were relieved that their budgets were not slashed to the point that enrollment cuts would be required, they were unhappy about stiff student fee increases the governor has proposed--24% at UC and up to 40% at Cal State--and about the lack of cost-of-living pay raises for faculty and staff members.

But the 7.9% increase for public schools and 10.1% boost for community colleges brought smiles to leaders of those systems for the first time in several budget years.

“I’m very gratified . . . that the governor has put such a high priority on education,” state Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig said at a news conference. “This is not a great budget for schools--they’re still going to have to make cuts--but considering what could have happened . . . it’s good news.” However, several sources familiar with school funding said that per-pupil spending, an important measure of the state’s commitment to public education, will be about the same next year as it was this year--roughly $4,800 per pupil.

Others complained that the budget’s “fine print” diminishes some of the apparent gains. For example, a proposed new requirement that attendance be taken in every class period, instead of just once a day, could cost schools at least $100 million next year.

The Wilson budget includes $28.9 billion in state, local, federal and lottery funds for public elementary and secondary schools, an increase of $2.1 billion over the current year’s spending. This would support an expected statewide enrollment of 5.5 million students next year, an increase of 187,000.

Despite the increase in funding, Honig said the schools still will fall at least 2% behind the expected inflation rate.

For community colleges, the governor has proposed $3.56 billion in local, federal and lottery spending--an increase of $328 million.

The unexpectedly large increase for the state’s 107 community colleges means “we will be able to find a seat for every legitimate student who wants to come to a community college,” said David Mertes, statewide chancellor of the two-year college system.

In putting together this recession-ravaged budget, the governor made it clear he favored schools and community colleges.

Kindergarten-through-12th-grade schools and community colleges both received cost-of-living increases of 1.5%--the only parts of state government to get such raises.

The governor also included $100 million for such “prevention” programs as expanded preschool opportunities and more early mental health counseling.

The pitting of education against health, welfare and other state services, however, makes many educators nervous.

“The governor is trying to do right by us, but we’re kind of antsy,” said a top Department of Education official who asked not to be identified. “We’d hate to see this develop into a battle between education on the one hand and health and welfare on the other.”

While Wilson said both UC and Cal State would remain “incredible bargains,” even with the sharp student fee increases, both student and faculty leaders expressed concern that California’s traditional commitment to low-cost, high-quality public education might be in jeopardy.

Said Patrick Nichelson, president of the Cal State faculty union: “A lot of families suffer every time you raise these fees. Students either stay away or reduce their class loads.”

Under Wilson’s plan, UC would receive $2.82 billion next year in state funds and student fees. That would be 4.5% more than last year, but less than half the increase UC sought. Current UC enrollment of 166,500 on nine campuses would rise by 2,700, the governor suggested.

The governor proposed increasing undergraduate UC student fees for state residents by 24%, or $550, to $2,824. These fees, which must be approved by the UC Board of Regents, would be on top of a 40% fee increase in the current year. These figures do not include average individual campus fees of $212, plus room, board and books, which add another $8,000 or so.

William B. Baker, UC vice president for budget and university relations, said he regretted the fee increase and salary freezes. But he added that Wilson’s proposal “does meet our two principal objectives: to maintain the quality of this great university and to maintain access for all eligible California students who want to come.”

With the fee increase, UC education costs will be only $112 more than the average fees at the 23 state university systems around the country with which it compares itself financially, UC officials contend. However, UC Student Assn. Executive Director Lee Butterfield asserted that only Penn State is more expensive than UC when dormitory and food costs are included.

Excluding fee increases, the governor wants to give the Cal State system $1.66 billion, $127 million less than Cal State trustees requested. However, Wilson pleased trustees by allowing for the equivalent of 2,600 more full-time students, on top of the current 270,050. If the California State University trustees decide to increase student fees by the maximum 40% provided for in Wilson’s budget--a step that would require legislative approval--that would bring basic fees for a full-time resident student in the 20-campus system to $1,310, up $374.

The Cal State trustees will discuss the fee increase amount at a meeting in Long Beach next week. System Chancellor Barry Munitz said at least a 20% hike would be needed to avoid enrollment cutbacks or jeopardizing overall quality.

The Rising cost of College

Here is a look at the annual undergraduate tuition at the UC and Cal State University systems.

Fees do not include room, board, parking, health or activities costs. The 1992-93 figures are those proposed by the governor and await action by the two university systems’ governing boards. 1981/82: Cal State: $252 UC: $938

1992/93: Cal State: $1,310* UC: $2,824

*The governor has authorized a tuition increase up this amount for the Cal State schools. However, the actual amount will be set by the CSU Board of Trustees and the state Legislature.