A.S. Government Resources

A Resolution in Support of Governor Brown’s Tax Initiative Proposal

WHEREAS,  the Associated Students (A.S.) of San Diego State University (SDSU) is the official representative body, and the voice of SDSU’s more than 30,000 students and  is entrusted to represent the best interests of our constituents; and

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the A.S. to educate students on issues that impact them, and advocate for the student perspective to the appropriate parties, which include the university administration and faculty, and government representatives and agencies on the local, statewide and national levels; and

WHEREAS,  the CSU has recently faced substantial budget cuts from the state, including a reduction of $750 million in 2011-2012 alone, and

WHEREAS, in addition to the state budget cuts, the CSU has also faced a series of tuition and fee increases since 2001, raising the cost of undergraduate attendance from $1,428 in 2001 to an estimated $5,970 in 2012, and

WHEREAS, every $1 invested in the CSU yields a $5.43 return back to the California economy, sustains almost 150,000 jobs and provides a majority of graduates in key economic areas such as agriculture, medicine, criminal justice and education, and

WHEREAS, the state of California currently has a $15.7 billion deficit, and  

WHEREAS, the current state budget assumes the passage of Governor Brown’s Tax Initiative in order to balance the budget, and  

WHEREAS, the California higher education system faces an automatic “trigger cut” of $250 million to the CSU and the University of California (UC) system, and $548.5 million to the California Community College (CCC) system if voters do not approve the Governor’s Tax Initiative in November, and

WHEREAS,  the California budget also includes an increase in funding of $125 million to the CSU and UC in 2013-2014 if the Tax Initiative is approved and tuition and fees are maintained at 2011-2012 levels for the 2012-2013 school year, be it

RESOLVED, that the A.S. of SDSU supports the Governor’s Tax Initiative and its dedication of funds to education and a balanced state budget, and be it further  

RESOLVED, that A.S. of SDSU will take an active role in advocating for higher education, its benefits to the state of California and the issues affecting each campus to state and local representatives and the general public,

RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be distributed widely, including, but not limited to, CSU Board of Trustees, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, SDSU President Elliot Hirshman, the Daily Aztec, SDSU Director of Government and Community Relations Tyler Sherer, the SDSU Alumni Association, CSU Campus Presidents, CSU Associated Students, the United States Student Association, California Faculty Association, University of California Student Association, California Teachers Association, Governor Jerry Brown, the Sacramento Bee, the Union Tribune, Assembly member Marty Block, Congresswoman Susan Davis, the office of Assembly Speaker John Pérez, the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, the office of Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, and the office of Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff

Passed by the A.S. Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the A.S. Council, on July 16, 2012

Rob O’Keefe, A.S. President