By Chris Goodmacher
Daily Bruin Contributor
Gov. Gray Davis on Thursday ordered all state agencies,
including the University of California, to prepare proposals for
reducing their budgets by 15 percent for the next fiscal year.
“The terrible tragedy of Sept. 11 has injected even more
uncertainty into our economy, and we must prepare for greater
revenue reductions as a result,” Davis said in a
statement.
The effects of the order on the UC budget will be discussed at
Wednesday’s Board of Regents meeting in San Francisco,
according to Brad Hayward, spokesman for the UC.
One major impact this may have on students is the possibility of
fee increases, said Debbie Davis, chair of the University of
California Students Association.
“In the process of being elected, (the governor) committed
to no fee increases, and I hope he stays by that commitment,”
Davis said.
“A 15 percent cut is significant,” she continued.
“Students will feel it one way or another.”
Others say students may also see cuts in the financial aid
program.
“If all programs are targeted (for cuts) by 15 percent, it
would certainly affect our goals of getting money out to
students,” said Ronald Johnson, director of the Financial Aid
Office. Johnson said it is too early to address how this may impact
individual students.
Scott Svonkin, chief of staff for Assemblyman Paul Koretz,
D-West Hollywood, called the cuts prudent given the current
economic situation and said it would be smart for anyone receiving
any government money to prepare for reduced funding.
But the directive, according to Hayward, does not mean every
state agency will have its budget cut nor that all areas will see
that much reduction.
“It’s way too early to say how it will affect the
UC’s priorities,” Hayward said.
The announcement comes in the wake of previously ordered budget
cuts of 3, 5 and 10 percent by the governor in August.
The state budget is still in early planning, with the reductions
to be officially made on Jan. 10 when the governor releases his
budget for the following year.
Steve Olson, vice chancellor of Finance and Budget, said that
though some speculate that the governor may order sudden mid-year
budget cuts, it has never happened in the 20 years he has worked
for the state.