Governor Jerry Brown’s May budget revise was released on May 15. The district may be in better shape than the previously predicted “worst-case scenario”, in light of the revisions.
“This is the time to put our finances in order, and that’s precisely what this May revision intends to do,” Brown said at the Capitol press conference over the budget.
According to the Department of Finance, personal income tax revenue will be $6 billion higher than what was projected. It is chiefly because of this income tax that the budget deficit has reduced.
Now Brown wants to raise public education spending by $3 billion, to $52.4 billion. Spending on education would reach the highest since 2007-08.
“We welcome the news of additional funds for community colleges,” said Tim Leong, District Director of Community Relations at the Contra Costa Community College District office. Leong did not comment on how the district’s revenue would be affected by the revised budget.
“However the big piece, still unsolved is getting Californians to vote on the extension of temporary taxes.”
In April, the district was planning based on a budget that had ‘taken a turn for the worse’. The scenario included the possibility of cutting 1,500 courses, and a decline in revenue up to $20.5 million.
The California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office was recommending nearly doubling tuition for community colleges, raising it to $66 dollars a unit.
May’s revised budget shows the state deficit now under $10 billion thanks to increased tax revenues; a stark difference to the previously estimated $15.4 billion.
Brown still hopes to see an extension on temporary taxes in order to secure California on a steady fiscal platform. The taxes are set to expire July 1 and there is no schedule yet for a special election to continue them.
Previous attempts to place the temporary taxes on a special election ballet have been stymied by opposition between democrats and republicans in the state legislature.
Without the tax extensions, it is unclear how community colleges and state universities would be affected under the new budget revise. Prior budgets though, painted a grim picture if the tax extensions did not pass.
“While [the budget revise] announcement was a little bit of good news, we still have no approved state budget today,” Leong said.
