Budget Central

Dear Campus Community,

This memo serves as an update on the 2026-27 budget process. The final budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor represents very good news for the CSU. The budget restores the $143.8 million cut from 2025-26, funds year 5 of the compact agreement, $264.8 million, and provides partial restoration of year 4 of the compact, $100.9 million. The planned tuition increase of 6% generates $175 million systemwide and will be factored into the overall budget decisions for the system as well. The next steps in the budget process are expected in the coming weeks as the Chancellor’s Office works on budget allocations to the campuses. We expect that some funding will be held back in the July budget memo related to compensation as collective bargaining continues with our 15 collective bargaining units, which means a second budget memo after all bargaining is complete. Once we receive the July budget memo we can move forward with conversations about enrollment growth funding, State University Grant increases, and funding for mandatory cost increases to health benefits, property and liability premiums and utilities. We want to reiterate that this is good news for CSU, and CSULB as we welcome another large incoming class, but this time with an increase to our budget, rather than the flat budget we had to manage in 2025-26. Expect another update once we know more about what is and is not included in the July Budget memo.
 

Karyn Scissum Gunn

Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Scott Apel

CFO and Vice President of Administration & Finance