Oof. Oh boy. How to say this … well, there’s no easy way to put it, so we’ll just tell you straight out. You remember those 9.3 percent student fee increases from not-so-long ago? And remember when UC prez Yudof said they might have increased fees by another 20 to 25 percent (despite conveniently not knowing anything about them when asked at the mid-July regents meeting)?

That might all seem like the good ol’ days come a year from now if a 32 percent fee increase from the current rate comes to pass next fall.

But enough jibber-jabber, let’s look at the numbers:

*7.5 percent increase for spring 2010
*UC tuition up to $10,302
*Undergrads pay $2,500 more
*Most grad students also paying 32 percent more
*Undergrads (as graduates do now)—if in engineering or business—pay up to $1000 more than other students
*Enrollment reduced by 2,300 for the second year in a row

Of course, all these figures will be discussed by the regents in the future and it doesn’t look like anything’s solid or set in stone as of right now.

But enough numbers, let’s look at the jibber-jabber:

UC leaders have long predicted a midyear fee hike this year and an additional increase for next fall. With hundreds of millions of dollars cut from state funding, raising fees is the university’s only choice, leaders said.

Wow, the only choice? Is that so? Somehow we think that’s FALSE.

Image Source: rachel_bar under Creative Commons
UC proposing 32 percent fee hike [Contra Costa Times]

For those of you who drive, live and dwell on or around campus, or simply choose to walk rather than subject yourself to the whims, smells and sad resignation aboard the AC transit system, this year expect a seller’s market for bus pass stickers. Amidst a gaping deficit and, it would follow, looming budget cuts, it looks like bus prices are on the up and up. Our hands protectively cup our oh-so-valuably adorned ID cards.

Here’s the damage: Adult trips will go from $1.75 to $2; for kids and old people, 85 cents to $1. Likewise, the price of a ten ride package jumps from $8.50 to $10, and a 31 day pass now costs an additional ten bucks. This decision comes at the heels of about $100 million in funding cuts this millennium and a $57 million deficit this year.

The Clog sympathizes with the soon-to-be-iron-calved homeless people who we suspect will be most strongly affected by the increase. For $2 a ride, we’d walk too.

Image Source: romsrini under Creative Commons.
AC Transit Set to Raise Fees in Response to Cuts, Deficit [Daily Kal]