News

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…

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More Commitment of Funds We Haven’t Got? UC-Riverside Med School

Byuclafaculty

UCR med school stalled over funding: National medical committee withholds preliminary accreditation for UC Riverside medical school. June 8, 2011, LORA HINES, Riverside Press-Enterprise Preliminary accreditation for UC Riverside’s proposed medical school is on hold because the state has not budgeted ongoing money to fund it, university officials said Wednesday. The decision by the national Liaison Committee on Medical Education to withhold the accreditation means the school opening, slated for summer 2012, could be delayed for a year, university officials said… University and county officials said they will boost efforts to get lawmakers to commit funds for the medical school….

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How the (budget) sausage is being made

Byuclafaculty

You are not supposed to want to know how sausages are made. The making of the state budget sausage – as a prior post noted – is supposed to happen in the legislature by June 15. For any kind of tax extension or tax-related ballot measure, a 2/3 vote is needed which means a few GOP legislators must go along. Public sector unions have been pushing Gov. Brown to abandon the idea of a vote on tax extensions although they have not explained how he is supposed to get a 2/3 vote for his tax extensions. But they have said…