Author: uclafaculty

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UCLA Forecast Chart Tells the Underlying Story

Byuclafaculty

Above you see my favorite chart from the UCLA Anderson Forecast. It appears each quarter in the publication that accompanies the Forecast conference. This version is from the most recent Forecast conference which took place on campus in Ackerman last Wednesday. (My brilliant cellphone photo of the conference on the left reminds us that there is – after all – space on campus to hold big conferences, but that is another story.) What the chart tells us is that California has essentially never recovered from the recession of the early 1990s. The trend line is the Cold War employment growth…

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Radio Interview on UC Budget Cut (in Now-Vetoed Budget)

Byuclafaculty

UC Exec VP for Business Operations Nathan Brostrom was interviewed earlier today by Madeline Brand, KPCC, shortly before the governor vetoed the state budget. Brostrom asserts that the governor could have line-item vetoed the UC cut. It’s not clear that the governor could do that but, in any event, vetoing the entire budget ends the issue for now. Click below for the interview. Note that it is uncertain where we go from here. The governor and the legislative Democrats are now at odds. The state controller, John Chiang, is deciding whether the budget that was passed but vetoed was “balanced”…

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At Last, Something Is Heard

Byuclafaculty

We at this blog have been waiting for UCOP and the Regents to get involved in the state budget. It’s late in the game – a simple-majority budget was passed last night that (as previously noted on this blog) chops another $150 million from UC. But at last, we are hearing from UC’s powers-that-be. Gov. Brown could veto the budget. If he signs it, he could cut spending in particular lines but can’t raise spending. However, other bills can be enacted that modify the budget. In any case, the UCOP press release reproduced below in italics could be the start…

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UCLA History: UC Extension in September 1931

Byuclafaculty

Prior posts have reproduced two earlier Extension catalogs from 1930-31. Below is a third from September 1931 (and the last in possession of yours truly). Extension is still listed as headquartered at 805 South Hill Street in downtown LA, not far from City Hall (shown at left in a 1931 photo). Compared to the earlier catalog, this catalog’s cover reports the longest list of locations around the LA/Southern California at which courses were offered. There is a heavy concentration of education courses, probably to allow K-12 teachers to earn credentials. Under Economics are listed various business courses (accounting, marketing, personnel…

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Understatement of the Week

Byuclafaculty

See the prior post on the simple-majority budget and the further cuts it includes for UC. The Democratic plan …calls for $150 million reductions each to the University of California and California State University systems. UC Office of the President spokesman Steve Montiel responded as follows: “We are assessing the latest proposal from the state Senate, and it’s too soon to say with certainty what the impact would be. But there’s no question that additional cuts would not be good news for UC and the Californians it serves. The university already has taken steps to absorb a $500 million cut,…

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More Cuts for UC Under Simple-Majority Budget

Byuclafaculty

If Republican votes cannot be obtained to put tax extensions on the ballot, Democrats in the legislature are reported to be poised to pass a simple-majority budget that would include more cuts to UC. From the Sacramento Bee website: The proposal… includes the following: – $3.4 billion in deferred payments to K-12 schools, community colleges and the University of California. Schools could maintain programs as long as they borrow to fund them. – $1 billion in taking First 5 funds, a move already under legal challenge. – $1.7 billion by asking redevelopment agencies to contribute money to the state under…

Not Yet Out of the Woods on the State Budget

Byuclafaculty

The latest cash statement from the state controller released today covers the fiscal year 2010-11 through May (11/12 of the year). It tells you what has actually happened so far this year as opposed to optimistic forecasts about next year. Despite all of the hoopla about extra revenue, the statement indicates we are not out of the woods regarding the state budget. Relative to last year, sales tax revenue is up 1.7%, less than inflation in other words, which suggests a not-so-vibrant underlying retail economy. Overall revenue is up 7.6% over the same period last year and the gain is…

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Some Mental Reservations on the State Budget: Time to Reconsider?

Byuclafaculty

News accounts this morning are full of the budget drama in Sacramento and whether Governor Brown will get the four Republican votes to put tax extensions on the bracket. The accounts use the usual metaphors. Brown wants a budget with “no gimmicks.” Anything else is “smoke and mirrors.” Etc., Etc. However, the reason Brown might now possibly get the needed GOP votes is that Republicans think that if tax extensions are on the ballot, they will be defeated. In that case, Brown will have made pension, spending cap, and regulatory concessions without getting his extensions. Lost in this reporting is…

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Document indicates GOP price for cooperating with governor

Byuclafaculty

The Republican prices for the votes the governor needs to have his budget passed with temporary tax extension until the extensions get on the ballot are listed below. There is some ambiguity about the pension although it definitely covers UC. The pension cap may cover current employees, not just new hires. (It’s not clear to yours truly.) Also as part of a tentative deal is a state spending cap and other provisions. As written, the pension provisions seem to define the kind of part-time recalls to retired faculty as “double dipping” and thus would kill such arrangements. No one would…

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UCLA Promises 280 Room Hotel/Conference Center to LA Airport Authorities

Byuclafaculty

Seems like – despite the supposed “pause” while the 280 room hotel/conference center is being restudied – someone at UCLA is determined to pursue the plan “as is.” Recently, the LA airport authorities announced a plan to discontinue the Flyaway bus service to LAX from Westwood. As part of its presentation of June 6 to the airport authorities aimed at keeping the service in operation, UCLA promised its 280 room hotel/conference center. Above you see page 4 from the presentation. The full presentation is accessible below: Open publication – Free publishing – More airport Yours truly did suggest a modest…