"We must reinvest in higher education and we must continue to say to our elected officials it's time to stop the disinvestment in higher education."
Speaking before a crowd of several hundred people in the satellite student union at Fresno State -- University President John Welty urged students and staff - to register to vote and to pass the governor's proposed temporary tax initiative to help fund higher education. "If voters do not approve the measure in November, we face a budget reduction of up to $10.5 million in our 2012-2013 budget."
If that happens, Welty said instead of making deeper cuts, he'll use one-time carry forward reserves to fill the gap, but warned the following fiscal year would be worse.
Starting in August, Fresno State will not admit students for the spring 2013 semester and may have to reduce enrollment by another 800 students.
Those that apply in the fall for next year - will be wait-listed until after the November election. And students registering for courses this fall will be limited to 16 units. Those Action News talked with were shocked by the potential impacts.
Fresno State student, Ruby Mondoza said, "That's really sad because students that want to stay close to home won't have that option to come to a CSU. They would have to turn over to a UC, which the closest one is in Merced and junior colleges like the one in Reedley and Fresno City College too."
Right now there's an effort on campus to collect signatures to place a tax initiative on the November ballot - but until there is one - students told Action News they don't have enough information to make an educated decision.
Fresno State student, Yesenia Covarrubias added, "I have a brother and sister at a two year college so this obviously effects them a lot, so I just need more details about it before I can make an actual vote."
Even though most Californians think the budget remains a big problem, just a slim majority of likely voters said they'd support the governor's proposed tax initiative for the November ballot.
According to a recent survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California - 52% of likely voters said they'd vote yes.
