Calbright staff report governor's proposed budget would raise college funding to roughly $53.1 million; trustees urged to support outreach

Calbright’s vice president for government relations briefed trustees on the college’s state advocacy and a proposed increase in the governor’s budget.

Jenny Johnson said the governor’s proposed budget would add about $38.1 million above Calbright’s $15.0 million base funding, moving the college toward an approximate $53.1 million total when cost‑of‑living adjustments are included. She said the college had an "excellent" Senate budget subcommittee hearing and is preparing for an Assembly education budget subcommittee hearing on April 21.

Johnson asked trustees to help identify local and regional leaders who could support the college’s advocacy, noting a broad coalition of business, labor and community health organizations already engaged with the college. "We have a really robust group of supporters from business, labor, community health organizations," she said.

CFO Ed Lee then reviewed the campus budget process and timeline for the 2026–27 fiscal year, describing assumptions, scenario planning and a target to present a tentative budget to the board by July 1 and to adopt a final budget at the August meeting.

Trustees praised the advocacy and communications teams and urged continued outreach and caution; no final budget action took place at the meeting.