Lt. Governor John Garamendi Pushes UC Regents to Pass a Budget Without Crippling Student Tuition Hikes
- Garamendi Supports Committee Motion Curtailing Freshmen Enrollment at UC Campuses Unless State Approves Adequate Funding

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LT. GOVERNOR

November 20, 2008

San Francisco – Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, a University of California Regent, argued that the escalating UC tuition fees are making the public university system cost as much as private universities, today urged the UC Regents not to factor in a $662 a year tuition increase when finalizing the UC budget.

At their board meeting today, the UC Regents Committee on Finance voted to curtail freshmen enrollment in 2009-2010 unless the Legislature includes a $815 million increase in revenue. The revenue increase is needed to ensure classes are not canceled, students can earn a degree in four years, the university has the ability to hire top rated professors and UC retains their world class research facilities at the 10 campuses. On Thursday, the UC Regents board must vote on the $19 billion budget proposal before it goes to the Legislature for action.

“The great tradition of California, the free higher education system, is being thrown out the door, it is being abandoned. We may as well be Stanford, USC or Harvard because our student tuition rates are getting up there,” Lt. John Garamendi said. “It is time to say enough is enough, no more taxes on students. We must make the case to the public.”

During the Committee on Finance meeting in San Francisco, Garamendi made a strong argument and motion for the UC Regents to remove the increased student fees factored into the budget proposal. Despite the committee’s vote against Garamendi’s motion, it will go before the entire UC Regents board tomorrow for consideration.

Garamendi said last year the California Legislature approved a $448 a year tuition increase on the backs of students closing the doors of affordability on thousands of young Californians who will be the workforce of the future. Garamendi said it cannot happen again this year.