The California State University Board of Trustees today approved its 2013-14 budget request of the Governor and the legislature, which seeks to balance the system’s continued unmet needs with the state’s fiscal challenges.  CSU is requesting a total of $371.9 million over its current baseline budget that includes state funds, tuition and systemwide fees.  The plan includes revenue for enrollment growth, compensation, as well as maintenance of facilities.

“This budget request is a genuine reflection of the fiscal needs of the university, but moderated by the reality of the state’s fiscal challenges,” said Robert Turnage, assistant vice chancellor for budget.  “The revenue plan strikes a balance between a reasonable request to the state and revenue associated with enrollment growth.”

The budget plan identifies increased funding needs of $441.8 million, and asks the Governor and the legislature for a total increase of $371.9 million in state support funds.  The enrollment demand item will accommodate an increase in the number of students admitted, as well as additional courses for current students.

Specific funding requests include:

* Mandatory costs (health benefits, new space, energy): $48.2 million

* Compensation increase (3 percent “pool”): $86.3 million

* Graduation Initiative/Student Success: $58.0 million

* 5 percent enrollment demand: $155.8 million

* Urgent maintenance needs: $50.0 million

* Information technology infrastructure upgrade: $20.0 million

* Instructional equipment replacement: $23.0 million

* Center for California Studies: $0.5 million

The expenditure plan would bring annual spending for support of the CSU to approximately $4.5 billion, including student fee revenues.  Approximately $69.9 million in revenue will come from tuition fee revenue associated with enrollment growth of approximately 20,000 additional students.  The budget also includes funds for a 3 percent compensation increase pool for faculty and staff (subject to collective bargaining for represented employees), funding for the Graduation Initiative, as well as funding for urgent maintenance needs and increased mandatory costs (health care benefits, energy).

About the California State University

The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 427,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. The CSU awards over 95,000 degrees annually and since its creation in 1961 has conferred nearly 2.6 million.