By Margarita Cancino and Maria C. Isidoro
Governor Jerry Brown’s May Revise proposal will give students the opportunity to afford school and graduate with minimal financial stress.
The 2014-15 State Budget proposal was announced yesterday morning.
It includes a one-time increase of $50 million from Proposition 98’s General Fund, which is the annual funding provided to public schools and colleges in California.
The May Revise promises to strengthen and expand student success at community colleges.
The proposal plans to support the existing Economic and Workforce Development program at California Community Colleges.
The CCC budget will remain at $200 million.
Budget adjustment plans will pay- off the delays on revenues.
These are expenses that were put on hold by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Room for 70,000 more students in California Community Colleges will be provided as a result of this revision.
Student fees of $46 per unit will not change.
EWD programs will have a one-time increase of $50 million for the 2014-15 school year.
This will expand the resources given to community colleges, as well as help students better prepare for the regional labor market demands.
Starting 2015-16 funding for non-credit classes will be equally distributed.
Currently non-credit classes are in higher demand, even though they are not required courses.
An increase of $60.5 million will be added to the “Deferred Maintenance.”
A total of $148 million will go toward the reconstruction and the maintenance of community colleges.
Because of a reduction of growth from 3 percent to 2.75 percent in community college enrollment, $16 million, Proposition 98 General Fund monies will be decreased.
Each community college will receive a one-time increase of $1.4 million and an on-going $4.6 million for technology equipment.
The technology services include electronic transcripts and online education.
Cal Grant Programs received an increase of $13.9 million in 2013-14 and will receive $25.1 million in 2014-15 to reduce the amount of student debt.
Board of Education chairman Jerome E. Horton responded to Brown’s budget revision proposal shortly after with great approval.
Ashley Leon and Sergio Lepes contributed to this story.
