Budget Act Amendment, Includes Additional $50 Million for UC that can be used for Deferred Maintenance Projects
Oakland: The University of California's largest union, AFSCME Local 3299, today hailed the State Legislature's passage of AB 1476---an Amendment to the FY 2014-2015 State Budget Bill, which includes an additional $50 million in one time appropriations for the University of California.
If signed by the Governor, the amendment spearheaded by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins will provide an additional $100 million out of the state's expected general fund surplus to help both UC and CSU address facilities maintenance needs that have increasingly raised safety concerns for staff and students. If State General Fund revenues continue to exceed projections, the amendment also expresses the Legislature's intent to make the increase permanent beginning in 2016, for the purpose of "increasing enrollment of California students and improving student services."
The importance of this deferred maintenance funding and restored state investment in the UC system—was discussed in a recent San Jose Mercury News Op-Ed penned by AFSCME 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger.
In response to today's developments, Lybarger issued the following statement:
"Together with the previously enacted state budget, the amendment passed today honors the principles of affordability and quality at the foundation California's public university system, and provides critical resources that are needed to make these facilities safer places to live, work, and learn. While the total budget allocation for UC remains substantially less than it was before the 2008, this budget re-invests in mission critical priorities--like access and safety--that were hit hardest by state budget cuts over the last decade. For the sake of our members and the students they serve every day, we are hopeful that the Governor will sign this important budget amendment."
AFSCME 3299 is the University of California's largest union, and represents more than 22,000 Service and Patient Care Technical Workers at the system's 10 campuses, five medical centers, numerous clinics and research laboratories. Visit us online atwww.afscme3299.org, or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/afscme3299.
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