Slippage Worth Noting

State spending on higher ed as a percent of personal income

The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) has put out a series of charts related to the state budget.  Above is one of the charts.  The Master plan era - which also featured increased baby boomer enrollments and related funding - came to an end in the early 1980s as the effects of Prop 13 (state bailouts of local governments especially school districts) were felt.  Since then, the story has been one of a downward trend.  Note that "higher ed" includes community colleges which are covered by Prop 98 and its protections.  UC and CSU are not so-protected.

The full set of charts is available at http://lao.ca.gov/Infographics/californias-state-budget