Bill could cap California college fee hikes CSU UC community college

SACRAMENTO, CA -  The pain of huge fee increases at California colleges has prompted one state lawmaker to author a bill that would give students a financial break.

State Senator Dean Florez (D - Shafter) has sponsored SB 969, a measure that would limit fee increases at the University of California, California State University and community colleges to no more than five percent a year.

The measure only allow colleges to increase fees for the incoming class and the price that students pay as freshmen would continue until they graduate.

Last year UC and CSU raised student fees by a whopping 32 percent. It now cost $4,900 per year to attend a CSU and more than $10,000 annually at UC school.

"The universities shouldn't use students as ATM machines," said Florez spokesman Bob Alvarez.  "Instead of saying let's raise fees because the legislature didn't give us the funding we need, this forces the universities to have a real discussion about how they spend their money."

Alvarez added, "We want parents and students to be able to budget the money they need for a college education. We want to offer them some fairness."

CSUS sophomore Erika Barba said fee hikes have made it harder to pay other bills.  She said, "I drive here from Roseville so I have to pay money for gas.  I have to have a car and insurance.  I pay for books and parking fees.  It's a lot."

Sac State Junior Ebony O'Neal echoed those sentiments and added, "A lot of people have dropped out who can't afford the extra 32 percent.  And there are a lot of people who don't come here in the first place because they don't have the money."

Erik Fallis, a spokesman for the CSU Chancellor's Office, expressed concern about capping fees. " A requirement for the same fee from year to year for students does not recognize the reductions in the state's funding support for the CSU," Fallis said. "The bill could lead to higher fees for newer enrolled students to make up for the restriction in current students fee rates."

Fallis also indicated it wouldn't be fair to regulate the university's ability to collect fees if the legislature keeps cutting state funding. He said, "The bill makes reference to the students not paying more than 30 percent of the cost of instruction, but does nothing to guarantee that the state will fund 70 percent. To be effective the bill should make this guarantee."

The students understand the university's dilemma but believe something's got to give.

"They're going to be getting the money no matter what," said Barba.  "I don't know why they need so much from each individual.

"They need to get money from somewhere so they're charging us," added O'Neal.  "But they need to realize students can't afford it."

Fallis pointed out that fee hikes also include increases in student financial aid.  He said more than 50 percent of CSU students receive some kind of aid and 45 percent of the undergraduates have their fees fully covered by grants and waivers.

By Karen Massie kmassie@news10.net

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