The problem is, Economics major Jorge Garcia explains, that cutting back money to the California community college system is not going to solve the state’s economic problems.

Those familiar with the issue fear that budget cuts to the CCCs will do just the opposite: hurt it.

To understand this complex issue, one must understand the purpose of the community college.

President John Grindel explains that California community colleges are in place to: prepare students for transfer to universities, provide basic training and job skills and provide certificates for people looking to educate themselves without transferring.

Garcia explains that the most prosperous and stable economies are those in which its members are reasonably educated. Although this once meant a high school education, with the expanding economy, a college education has become increasingly important.

For many students the prospect of going from high school to a university can seem an unreachable goal.

The community college provides the perfect transition for this. And at $11 per unit, there is little excuse not to go.

But as soon as next fall, $11 per unit could be little more then a faint memory for all CCC students. With the proposed tuition increase ($24 per unit), the local CC may soon fall into the unreachable category with its UC and CSU counterparts.

It is here that it seems the states economic policy turns into somewhat of a double edged sword for the college student: eliminating funds to the institution from within as well as raising the price of its product.

This isn’t even the bad stuff.

Grindel explains that with the budget cuts, the school will be forced to make changes in the amount of sections offered.

This means there will be less classes for students to fill and therefore more students to turn away.

Enter the backlash.

Garcia explains that with every student that is turned away, there is an evergrowing group of “uneducated” members of society. As mentioned before, this is bad for the economy.

In addition to less educated people, there will be less people able to train for jobs. In a slumping economy, it doesn’t take an economics major to determine this is not a good thing.

“This will be a time where we will be needing to retrain for jobs,” Grindel said.

With the cuts, there is simply no way for the colleges to provide this service as it will be needed.

In this sense, the state is doing itself a disservice by cutting back funds to the community college. It’s the most basic place for public education and the best investment for an educated future.

Garcia explains that damages to this institution is only going to hurt California in the long run.