By Lantz Simpson
Gov. Gray Davis has proposed that $62 million of state appropriations go towards closing the gap between full-time and part-time faculty compensation in the community colleges.  The historic proposal, known as the part-time faculty equity fund, was part of the governor's January budget recommendation.  This is an acknowledgment by the governor that improving part-time faculty compensation is now a priority.  The proposal has been greeted with approval and support by all of the community college system's constituencies, including the Chancellor's Office and local administrators, as well as faculty groups. 
At the March 19 FACCC Lobby Day in Sacramento, faculty from SMC met with legislators and their staffs to lobby in support of the $62 million fund.  Legislators of both parties are indicating broad support for the fund.  However, the ongoing energy crisis is the major wild card in this year's state budget.  The state has been lending out about $45 million per day for the last two months to keep the electricity flowing and is hoping to recoup that money this spring through the sale of $12 billion in bonds.
The next step in the budget process is the May revise announcement, when the governor submits a revised budget proposal. 

In May the state will know more precisely what its  revenues  will  be for  next  year and  how much money will be available after the energy crisis has been addressed.  If the legislature approved and the governor signed a budget that included the full $62 million equity fund, it would mean about $800,000 in additional monies for Santa Monica College that could be spent only on improving the salaries of part-time faculty at SMC.  Faculty advocates, including the SMC Faculty Association and FACCC, continue to argue for the system's full request that $75 million go towards part-time faculty equity. 

Write the Governor today. See details in Advocacy Alert.