News and Information
FEBRUARY 2009
4 - Payments Delayed; CSU Exempt from Furloughs
Long Beach, Calif.--The Office of the Chancellor advised today that, as the governor and legislators continue to negotiate over a budget plan to close the state’s estimated $42 billion budget deficit, State Controller John Chiang this week began delaying payments to state programs, vendors and other businesses for 30 days. If a budget accord is not reached, the controller has warned that these delays could be extended or he may be forced to begin issuing IOUs. Under the State Constitution, however, the state has an obligation to meet its payment to public schools and public higher education systems. Therefore, CSU employees will continue to be paid. Read the list of priority payments here: http://www.sco.ca.gov/eo/fiscalissues/payments01-2009a.shtml
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s December Executive Order requiring furloughs two days per month for state civil service employees will be implemented Friday. The CSU is outside of the governor's direct jurisdiction and exempt from his furlough orders. Nonetheless, the governor’s executive order requests that the CSU, the University of California and the California Community Colleges implement similar measures. The CSU is not planning furloughs at this time but it has implemented several cost saving measures including: limiting student enrollment for fall 2009, freezing executive level salaries, restricting travel, deferring purchases, and holding vacant positions.
JANUARY 2009
10 - New York Times Op-Ed: Thomas Friedman - Tax Cut for Teachers
Maybe rather than just giving everyone a quick $1,500 to hit the mall to buy flat-screen TVs imported from China, or creating those all-important green-collar jobs for low-skilled workers — to put people to work installing solar panels and insulating homes — we should also give everyone who is academically eligible and willing a quick $5,000 to go back to school. Universities today are the biggest employers in many Congressional districts, and they’re all having to downsize.
