University Communications

Summer2002
Tough Times Tough Choices
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As California and the UC prepare to tighten belts next year, Chancellor Albert Carnesale lays out UCLA's strategy for dealing with difficult economic times

Illustration by David Brinley

IN THE FACE OF ANEMIC ECONOMIC GROWTH NATIONWIDE, the bust of the dot-com boom and the ongoing post-September 11 war against terrorism, dozens of states are experiencing staggering fiscal crises. California is, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, among 40 states (and the District of Columbia) that are reducing spending to address fiscal problems in 2002.

As part of efforts to alleviate that hemorrhaging, many states are shying away from raising general taxes and are, instead, cutting their budgets, including dollars earmarked for education. Wisconsin legislators, for example, confronted with a $1.1-billion deficit, were battling over proposals to ax as much as $108 million from the 26-campus University of Wisconsin (UW) system, which received $882 million from the state last year. In response to its fiscal uncertainty, the university temporarily froze admissions and suspended hiring, and in May, William Messner, chancellor of UW Colleges, said that the university might be forced to turn away qualified applicants for the first time.

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