UC regents oppose measure to aid colleges

The University of California Board of Regents voted Thursday to oppose a February ballot measure that would guarantee state funding for community colleges and reduce student fees at the 110-campus system.

The UC board noted the close partnership between the two giant educational systems but said it was concerned that Proposition 92’s guarantee of funds for community colleges would reduce the amount of state money available for public universities.

“Passage of Proposition 92 could result in a reduction in the university’s state-funded budget, which in turn could result in an erosion of university programs and services,” the regents said in a resolution approved by the board on a 15-0 vote.

The UC resolution was similar to a measure approved Wednesday by the California State University Board of Trustees, which is also concerned that the initiative would reduce funds available for the universities.

Proposition 92 was placed on the ballot by a coalition of teachers unions, community college organizations and students. The measure would reduce fees from $20 to $15 a unit, limit future fee increases and set a guaranteed level of funding for community colleges. Changing provisions of the measure would require a four-fifths vote of the Legislature.

Advocates of the measure say it is needed to provide a stable source of funding for the community colleges and insulate them from state politics. Keeping fees low would ensure that community colleges remain accessible to hundreds of thousands of students who might otherwise not attend, supporters of the measure say.

But the regents expressed concern Thursday that it could put more pressure on UC to raise student fees, which have nearly doubled in six years.

“Proposition 92 requires more state funding and reduces student fees for one segment of higher education without regard to the needs of all of higher education,” the regents said in their resolution.

“Since it does not create or identify any new revenue sources, unprotected programs such as UC and CSU would be competing for a smaller share of available funds.”

Cal State trustees pointed out that state funding for public universities has declined sharply in the last decade and that Proposition 92 would take nearly $1 billion from the state budget over the next three years.

Many state programs have guaranteed funding levels, and the state’s discretionary funds -- which are used to help finance UC and CSU -- constitute only 8% of the state budget, the trustees said. Proposition 92 would reduce that amount further, they said.

“Proposition 92 would be the latest in a long series of ballot measures that dedicate or ‘lock up’ an ever greater amount and share of the state’s general fund,” the UC resolution said.

richard.paddock@latimes.com