Governor Unveils Details of Budget Stressing Schools

SACRAMENTO —  Gov. George Deukmejian today unveiled a $36.7-billion election year budget that pledges its biggest increases for education--$1.6 billion more for California public schools and colleges in the coming year.

The Republican governor formally submitted his detailed 1,200-page-plus budget for the 1986-87 fiscal year to the Legislature this morning after highlighting it in a televised address Thursday. (Story, Page 18)

Public education, from kindergarten through the University of California, would get the biggest dollar and biggest percentage increases of any major state program in Deukmejian’s proposal. The overall increases for education would amount to 10.4%, from the current $15.4 billion to $17 billion.

The figures do not include anticipated lottery profits, which Deukmejian estimated at $700 million for schools over the next 18 months.

Unsafe School Buses

The plan would boost operating budgets of public schools in kindergarten through 12th grade by 9.2%, the University of California by 7.6% , the California State University by 7.3% and the community colleges by 7.3%.

In addition to those operating budgets, the spending bill sets aside an additional $100 million for replacement of unsafe school buses, $60 million more for special education and $14 million for programs intended to prevent dropouts.

Other major provisions of the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1 include a $1.7-billion loan and grant program for new housing throughout the state, $137 million for toxic cleanup programs and a $1.16-billion reserve for emergencies.

The budget projects a 10.1% growth in state tax revenues but a 0.8% decrease in federal funds. Overall budget growth is estimated at 6.9%.

4.9% Welfare Increases

Total funds in the budget, including federal funds funneled through the state to local governments, would be $51.4 billion, up just 1.4%.

The bill also proposes 4.9% cost-of-living increases for all 2.3 million California welfare recipients, a 5.4% increase in health and welfare programs, 5% faculty raises at the University of California and 6.8% raises for state university faculty members.