Budget Central

Dear Campus Community,

On January 9, Governor Newsom’s budget proposal was announced, and included $509 million in new general fund resources for the California State University. This is a welcome proposal that signals the Governor’s support for the CSU, and Higher Education in California. However, it is just the beginning of a months-long budget negotiation between the CSU, the state legislature and the Governor’s office that culminates with the final budget at the end of June. 

As you may have seen in The CSU Connection newsletter to all employees on March 4, Chancellor Garcia expressed the gratitude we all share for this proposed investment in the CSU. At CSULB, we will join our colleagues across the system to advocate in Sacramento for full funding of the Governor’s proposal. If funded, we can expect investments in - enrollment growth to help address our current over-enrollment; compensation increases for faculty and staff; long over-due maintenance and infrastructure projects; and student success programs that support students from enrollment through graduation and into the workforce. 

While we wait for the budget process to finish in June, we do not have enough information to project how much new funding will be allocated to CSULB to address the priorities listed above, and if we can restore the division-level budget cuts taken in the 2024-25 fiscal year. As such, campus leaders have not been asked to prepare budget proposals for consideration at RPP. As the spring semester progresses and budget hearings convene in Sacramento, we’ll get a better idea of how the May Revision will reflect the Governor’s January Proposal and what we can expect to see in the final budget in late June. 

We have scheduled an RPP meeting for May 7, 2026, to share the most updated budget information possible before the end of the semester. While it would be ideal to plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year now, we do not have enough information to make that process meaningful. For the most up-to-date advocacy information available, and to share your story about why the CSU is a tremendous investment for the state of California, go to: CSU Voices.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the budget process at CSULB. We look forward to the conversation on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
 

Karyn Scissum Gunn

Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Scott Apel

CFO and Vice President of Administration & Finance