UC budget crisis

Min wage issue for state employees arises again: What would UC do?

Byuclafaculty

The article below deals with the minimum wage issue for state employees. It discusses the technical issue of whether the governor – if there is no budget on July 1 – could order workers paid the min wage in what used to be the June 30 payroll. (As a budget gimmick, the June 30 payroll was moved to July 1, thus “saving” some money for fiscal 2009-10.) Further in the article is the info that the legal case that was fought out in 2008 could lead to a min wage order over the summer.Exactly what UC would do if all…

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New LAO language on funding UC pension plan

Byuclafaculty

The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has issued a new proposal to the legislature that UC create a funding plan for its pension liability. The new language is below in italics. This new approach represents a shift for LAO and opens the door to state recognition of state pension funding obligations to UC. As prior posts have noted, each state dollar NOT contributed to the plan costs the plan an additional $2 in lost non-state contributions and ultimately drains the UC budget.University of California Retirement Plan Proposed LAO Compromise: Senate Plus Budget Bill Language 6-14-10 6440-001-0001 Provision 17. The Legislature requests…

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Regents may fire first warning shot

Byuclafaculty

Ventura County StarThursday, June 17, 2010 It’s almost as if the board of regents that runs the University of California can’t wait to fire a warning shot across the figurative bow of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state Legislature and the candidates now running for those positions. “Show us more money,” UC’s leaders seem to be saying, “or we’ll make some radical changes that your constituents won’t like very much.”Since regents are appointed to 12-year-terms, they will not have to face furious voters if those changes come; the politicians would have to. When it meets July 13 in San Francisco, the…

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Byuclafaculty

“UC Berkeley to pay consultant to find cost cuts” San Francisco Chronicle, Monday, October 5, 2009 The San Francisco Chronicle published an article today written by Nanette Asimov in which she reported that UC Berkeley has agreed to pay a consultant $3 million to help the university save money. UCB is facing a $150 million budget deficit for the 2009-10 year. Through short-term measures like cutting faculty pay through unpaid furlough days, laying off employees, reducing course offerings, fund raising, and increasing fees, the campus has whittled that deficit down, but there is still a long way to go to…

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Byuclafaculty

A Medical School at UC Merced “Loose Lips: How about a shorter name, please” by Merced Sun-Star, Friday, Oct. 02, 2009 The Merced Sun Star published a short article last Friday on the process that appears to be leading to the building of a medical school at UC Merced. Campus leaders said that with funds already received from the federal government, the next step is to establish an undergraduate program that “lays the groundwork for the medical school.” The name is the highly descriptive “Center of Excellence for the Study of Health Disparities in Rural and Ethnic Underserved Populations.” The…