The California higher education system took a sigh of relief on Thursday as Gov. Gray Davis signed a spending plan that promises to maintain a strong commitment to education.

” This is the third year in a row that puts education first, Davis said as he signed the 2002-2003 budget. ” Even in a softening economy I was determined to maintain our strong commitment to education.”

Community college officials followed the formation of the new budget very carefully.

In November Davis proposed cutting $126 million from the budget of California community colleges in an attempt to narrow the $12.5 billion shortfall in the budget.

After months of lobbying community colleges throughout California celebrated as Davis restored 32 million back to the budget.

Although some base funding cuts were made with total funding for community colleges up six percent community college official’s embraced Davis’ spending plan.

” I do not believe it serves our interests to be critical of the Gov.,” said Thomas Nussbaum chancellor of California community colleges, ” We should be positive of the priority he has accorded or colleges and education in general given the impossible budget situation.”

The largest base fund cuts included

o$58 million reduced from CALWORKS

o$26.8 million reduced from matriculation

o$19.8 million reduced from telecommunications and technology infrastructure

o$10 million reduced from student success funds

o8.8 reduced from the Economic Development program.

General funding for the University of California will increase 5.27 percent and Cal states will receive a 5.79 increase in general funding.

For the first time in years the University of California was threatening to raise student fees and implement enrollment caps but because of Davis’ plan this threat is no longer there.

In a statement UC President Richard Atkinson said ” Davis has proposed a wise, far-sighted investment in education for the benefit of the sates overall wealth.”

The Budget also allows for $92 million for Cal grants, $ 118 million to continue providing $1,00 and $2,500 Governors Merit Scholarships to high achieving high school students, and $160.4 million dollars to complete the development of UC Merced.

The Governors budget will be sent to t the sate legislature in May and must be approved by both houses with a 2/3 vote, before the budget goes back to the governor for his signature. The 2002-2003 fiscal; year will begin on July 1.