Governor Gray Davis has signed a bill that restores 32 million to the budget of California community colleges.

This bill, SB735, outlines $15 for instructional equipment and $17 for million scheduled maintenance and building projects. Another $14.9 million has also been allotted for 34 capital outlay projects.

Information about how the money will be dispersed throughout the 108 community colleges in California not available yet but Cerritos College is hopeful that this funding will restore the $1.6 million it lost when the initial cut was made.

In July Davis cut $126 million from the community college budget inciting a major endeavor from community college and political leaders throughout California to have the funding restored.

In September leaders saw the fruits of their labor when the legislature sent SB 735 to governor Davis in hopes of having 98 million restored to the budget.

Cerritos College president Jane Harmon said ” I am convinced that the major reason that any of the money was restored was the massive, unified and organized statewide effort to influence opinion. “

Although the money restored is only a fragment of what California community college leaders had hoped for, many are still hopeful.

Chancellor of community colleges, Thomas Nussbaum said, ” Given that the states fiscal condition is now far worse than when the Governor signed the budget in July, Governor Davis deserved credit for approving this partial restoration the community college funding.”I am confident that the legislature and the governor will fully restore our budget as soon as the states fiscal condition allows.” Community colleges are hopeful that the restoration will come soon. Every year the cost to provide community colleges students with proper education and facilities rises. The administration estimates that the total funding needed to bring all programs at community colleges would exceed $1.5 billion.