Drastic CSU budget cuts will hurt all of South Bay - Mildred Garcia, Daily Breeze

Gov. Jerry Brown's May revise of the state budget confirms California's grim economic realities. Despite improved revenues and cuts already in place - including $500 million to the California State University system - the state must still reduce its budget by nearly $10 billion, which means another round of dramatic cuts will be made to state-funded institutions and programs. If temporary tax extensions are not approved by voters or the Legislature, the CSU system will face $500 million in additional cuts, for a total of $1 billion. On paper, this cut may advance the short-term mission of reducing California's budget deficit. However, such austere cuts to the CSU system will cost the state and the South Bay region far more than it will save in the near term and puts our long-term economic strength and global competitiveness at risk.