There is a problem. First, community colleges rely on a totally different funding system under Prop 98 than UC and CSU. Yes, you can add up their budgets and get a total. But it's really apples and oranges. This combining exists in many documents related to the budget and while one might argue it's all "higher ed," it just confuses the analysis.
The second is that there are all kinds of micro-management built into both the governor's proposal and the LAO's analysis. The governor and the LAO may not agree on what to micro-manage, but they seem to agree on the concept. It's not clear what the supposed constitutional independence of the Regents is supposed to mean in the face of micro-management. Note that CSU and UC differ in that only the latter has the supposed independence, but you see little or no recognition of it. Both are discussed in the same manner. (One exception: When it comes to pensions and retirement benefits, UC gets no help; the other segments get something.)
An example of micro-management is that the governor has some notion in his budget that online course delivery in all three segments should increase by 10% relative to the pre-coronavirus base. Why? Where did that number come from? Who knows? Why is the number the same for all three segments? The LAO isn't sure, either.
THE BEST THING THE GOVERNOR COULD DO FOR HIGHER ED, AND JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER PROBLEM THE STATE CURRENTLY FACES, IS TO GET VACCINES INTO THE ARMS OF MORE PEOPLE. Just saying...
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*https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2021/4336/Major-University-Proposals-020121.pdf
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