Dear Colleague,
I am very pleased to share some good news regarding the state budget with implications for the University of California and for our campus as it relates to the planned Classroom and Academic Office Building (CAOB).
Over the past week, the two-house Budget Conference Committee finished its deliberations on the 2013-14 state budget. The Committee adopted most of the governor’s May Revision revenue and expenditure assumptions addressing the most critical needs in the state budget. The Committee budget also supports the governor’s revenue estimates in order to have a balanced budget and a budget reserve of more than $1 billion.
With regard to the University of California, the Committee approved the governor’s “multi-year funding plan,” which will provide fiscal stability and predictability over the next four years. In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the UC would receive a base budget increase of $125.1 million, which would provide $45.1 million to construct our Classroom and Academic Office Building, along with other UC priority items. The Committee also approved the UC debt restructuring proposal, which would provide the necessary revenue to meet the state’s employer contribution to the UC Retirement Plan. The increase to the UC base budget, along with the debt restructuring, would preclude any need for an undergraduate tuition increase in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The two houses must now put the Conference Committee budget into bill form and pass it out of the Legislature and on to the governor by June 15. The governor has until June 30 to sign it into law.
If the budget stays in its current form without amendment, it will be a very favorable outcome for UC students, faculty and staff.
As a reminder, the planned Classroom and Academic Office Building will provide 51,000 square feet of flexible classroom, academic support, research and office space. On-campus classroom space will increase by 34 percent and tutorial space by 56 percent with the addition of the new building.
We are very grateful the Legislature and UC Office of the President recognize the importance of continuing the growth of the UC Merced campus, located in one of the most under-served regions in the state.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
