California’s newly inaugurated governor, Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on Thursday unveiled his first budget proposal, which included a broad set of planned funding increases for higher education.

As expected, Newsom’s budget incudes $40 million to support a second year of free tuition for community colleges in the state — California currently spends $46 million a year to make the first year free. The budget proposal also includes $5 million to expand outreach for the program.

Newsom’s plan includes a total of more than $36 billion for the state’s public institutions, an increase of 4.1 percent (and a 5.4 percent increase in general funds).

The University of California System would see a $275 million, or 3 percent, increase under the proposal, as well as a one-time outlay of $138 million for deferred maintenance, $15 million for expanded degree completion and certification programs at UC extension centers, and a $50 million ongoing general fund to support the system’s proposed program to improve student success and cut degree attainment gaps.

The budget would increase the California State University System’s budget by roughly $456 million, or 6.2 percent. The system also would get a one-time amount of $247 million for… (continue reading)