Assembly members Dante Acosta (R-Santa Clarita) and Catharine Baker (R-Dublin) introduced a resolution calling on the University of California Regents to reject their proposed tuition increase.

The resolution (ACR 167) calls on the UC to focus on students and use its funding more efficiently in light of the UC Office of the President’s history of fiscal mismanagement that included lavish spending and a secret $174 million reserve fund.

“It’s been less than a year since we found out that the UC administration hid about $175 million in a secret fund, then tried to cover it up,” said Acosta. “It takes some nerve to push for a tuition increase after a stunt like that. How can the Regents look students in the eye and explain this plan? UC students and faculty deserve better.”

“The UC needs to get its own financial house in order before it even considers asking students for more money,” said Baker. “California students and families deserve better financial management from UC, not tuition hikes.”

An April 2017 report by the State Auditor revealed that the UC Office of the President used misleading budget practices, paid extraordinarily generous salaries and interfered with investigators. The Auditor also reported that the Office of the President had spent more than $2 million on wasteful items like theatre tickets, luxury hotels and limo rides.

The proposal being considered by the UC Regents would increase in-state tuition by $342, or 2.7% for the 2018-19 school year. It follows a $336 tuition increase imposed by the Regents last year.  Last week, following outcry from students, parents and elected leaders, the Regents postponed a vote on the tuition increase until their meeting in May.

This article is a news release given to KHTS by Assembly Member Acosta’s office. 

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