By Jenna Jauregui

California lawmakers and Governor Schwarzenegger were finally able to agree on a new state budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year, enacting the finalized version earlier this month.

The new budget plan restores $199 million to the CSU system, plus $60.6 million to support growing enrolment across the 23 campuses.  The first reinstallation of state funding to the CSU since 2007, the final budget increases the CSU General Fund from $2.35 billion to $2.62 billion.  These funds will help fill the gaping trench in the General Fund that resulted from last year’s $305 million budget cut.

The CSU system will receive an additional $106 million in one-time ARRA federal stimulus funding that will go toward CSU payroll.  The monies originally allocated for payroll will instead be used to admit new students and bring back courses that were cut due to last year’s budget reductions.

“We thank the governor and the legislature for their commitment to reinvest in higher education, and appreciate the increase in state funding support for the CSU,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Like the rest California, the last two years have been extremely challenging for us, but our mission is to educate the future workforce of the state, and despite these ongoing challenges the CSU will continue to provide both access and service to students.”

Although the new budget provides more funding to the CSU than last year, the support level is still in approximately the same place as in 2005-06.  CSUSM President Karen S. Haynes, Ph.D., said in her Oct. 18 Budget Update memo to the campus community, “The California economy continues to present challenges.  Mid-year budget cuts and a difficult budget year in 2011-12 are a real possibility.”

CSUSM’s budget remains under review as officials await information provided by the Chancellor’s Office.  President Haynes plans to release additional information or possibly hold a budget forum when the details of the 2010-11 budget plans are more complete.