Dive Brief:
- Several California state legislators are introducing bills aimed at minimizing tuition increases for the University of California.
- California Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to present his proposed state budget in January.
- The president of the 10-campus university system, Janet Napolitano, supports one legislative proposal that would increase state funding and raise tuition for students who aren’t California residents, the Associated Press reports.
Dive Insight:
Napolitano’s controversial plan to raise tuition by up to 5% per year for the next five years, approved by the university’s Board of Regents last month, could be seen as an attempt to force Brown and the legislators to act. That’s because the tuition increases could be wiped away by increased state spending. Other legislative proposals include a zero-based budgeting plan what would require the university to justify its spending each year and a bill that would freeze tuition while temporary tax hikes are in effect.