BERKELEY, Calif.
University of California leaders on Wednesday tentatively approved a 2008-09 budget despite objections that the proposal could lead to higher student fees.
The system’s governing Board of Regents hasn’t officially voted on a fee increase and isn’t expected to address that issue until after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presents his proposed state budget next January.
But the UC budget request approved by the board’s finance committee includes a possible fee hike of about 7 percent unless the state provides an extra $70.5 million.
With the state facing a deficit of several billion dollars, some argued the board is essentially opening the door to higher fees.
“I think we’re making a very serious mistake,” said Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a member of UC’s governing Board of Regents.
Garamendi asked the board to remove any reference to raising fees from their proposed budget. But the proposal was rejected with some regents saying they want to make their budget situation clear while others were concerned that taking a fee increase off the table would be a tactical error.
