News

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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…

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Governor Says There Will Be a State Budget Vote This Week But What That Means Is Uncertain

Byuclafaculty

Gov. Brown released a video – see below – in which he says there will be a budget vote this week. As a prior post noted, June 15 (Wednesday) is the generally-neglected constitutional deadline for the legislature to pass a budget. Exactly what a budget vote might mean is uncertain. Pieces of the budget have already been voted. More could be voted without an entire package being passed by June 15. In principle, legislators will not be paid after June 15, not even retroactively, for each day without a budget. But exactly how that will operate in practice is also…

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Average State Retirement Ages Including UC

Byuclafaculty

The Sacramento Bee today carries the table below on average retirement ages under various state pensions. UC faculty (not clear how that is defined; probably a lot more than ladder Senate faculty) have the oldest age. Source http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/12/3694100_a3693990/roger-niello-others-push-raising.html

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (in Wisconsin legislature)

Byuclafaculty

Apparently, a strange race of beings has taken over the Wisconsin legislature. They look like ordinary people but… Plan Would Force U. of Wisconsin to Return $39-Million in U.S. Broadband Grants June 8, 2011, Marc Parry, Chronicle of Higher Ed A budget approved by a legislative committee last week would force the University of Wisconsin to return $39-million in federal grants awarded to expand high-speed Internet access across the state, state education officials said. The plan would also require all University of Wisconsin institutions to withdraw from WiscNet, a nonprofit network cooperative that services the public universities, most of the…