The California legislature chipped away at the state’s $26.6 billion budget deficit in March by approving most of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget cuts, which included about $400 million in reduced spending on community colleges and a 38 percent increase in student fees. Starting in September, legal residents of California who attend any of the state’s 112 community colleges will pay $36 per unit, up from $26. For a full-time student, attempting 12 units, that represents an increase of $120 per semester.  The nonresident tuition fee will remain at $183 per unit. “Unfortunately, higher education ended up on the chopping block because we have been faced with a terrible budget deficit that is out of control and we’ve had to make deep cuts,” said Elizabeth Ashford, spokesperson for Brown. “These are very painful cuts and nobody is unsympathetic to the students that this will impact. But it is, unfortunately, just what happens when you have government spending that exceeds the revenue that is incoming. We’re trying to right this ship.” Officials in the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), which includes City College, Mesa College, Miramar College, six continuing education centers and military programs throughout the country, said they stand to lose over $10 million in revenue and possibly as much as $17 million more depending on actions by the governor.  The SDCCD is the second largest of the state’s 72 community college districts with nearly 100,000 students per year and 4,600 employees — 2,300 of which are full-time contract employees. Rich Grosch, president of the board of trustees for the SDCCD, described the effects of the cuts as “tremendous” for students. He said thousands have been turned away and many others cannot get the classes they need and want, because the district has been forced to cut sections. Grosch added that without some type of revenue enhancement, such as the governor’s plan to place a temporary extension on certain income, sales and vehicle taxes on the June ballot, the state’s community colleges are going to be in for some drastic cuts, which he said will be hard felt by students and the regional economy. “We’re the largest workforce trainer in San Diego,” said Grosch, adding that California still maintains the lowest per-unit cost in the nation. “Unless people get a chance to vote on the tax extension and they pass, there will be a reduction in our ability to meet student’s education and career goals.” Terry Davis, vice chancellor of business services for the SDCCD, said funds generated by the fee increase, which are expected to total about $110 million, will partially backfill cuts made by the state and reduce net base reductions from $400 to $290 million in 2011-12. Davis added that the biggest hurdle facing the college district is the “fifty percent law,” which requires all community college districts in California to spend at least half of their expenses on salaries for classroom instructors. Davis said that despite losing funds, the college cannot cut classes beyond a certain point without being in violation of the law. Currently the SDCCD has more than 3,000 students for which it receives no funding in order to stay in compliance. According to Davis, cuts to instructional costs would require cuts in non-instructional budgets, which he said would be impossible given that the modern classroom requires technology that is expensive to purchase and maintain. “That law is 40 years old and it’s so out of date,” Davis said. “It’s going to be difficult for anybody to be in compliance with that law.” Davis added that the SDCCD has already started to dip into its reserves to cover its cost. He said none of the districts employees have been laid off and neither salaries nor benefits have been cut. Due to a hiring freeze, the district has eliminated 201 equivalent full-time positions in the last three years creating a savings of over $11 million. “We cannot afford to keep offering classes that we’re not getting paid for,” Davis said. “At some point, we’re going to have to cut more sections.”  “Even though $10 per unit doesn’t sound like a lot of money, it is a significant increase from what we had 25 years ago when a community college education in California was free,” said Jose Fernandez, a San Diego City College student. “If they continue to increase fees, we’ll see a diminishing number of students receiving a college education. Unfortunately, the majority of those individuals will be from lower income brackets.” Jennifer Otto, a single mother of two attending City College, said that with rising gas prices and rising tuition along with books, parking and other fees, she’s having a hard time envisioning how she’s ever going to get through community college and on to a state college in the future. “Every day I’m faced with deciding between a college education and the hope of a better future or feeding my kids,” said Otto. “If the cost of everything keeps going up, there might not be much of a decision to make.” Ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner? In protest to rising community college fees, students, faculty and supporters staged a “Ramen-In” at Gov. Jerry Brown’s former San Diego office. On March 2, protestors carried 28 boxes of Top Ramen to the state building downtown, representing the additional $300 students who take on a typical 30 units per year will have to pay. “The $300 fee hike will come from students’ budget for food and other necessities. We will be eating Ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” City College student Jose Rodriguez said in a statement. “Hundreds of students delivered thousands of packages of Ramen to the governor’s former offices to show the impact of this huge fee increase.” The protesters called for passage of AB 1239 (Furutani), which would increase income taxes on those who make more than a quarter million dollars a year. A temporary 10 percent income tax bracket would be established for those making over $250,000, and an 11 percent tax bracket for those with taxable incomes over $400,000. The tax brackets are similar to those established by former Gov. Pete Wilson, and would expire after 5 years. — Kendra Hartmann