Understanding a public agency’s budget can be a daunting task for citizens. And often, that’s exactly how the government wants it. But no state agency’s books should be shrouded in secrecy or purposely overcomplicated. That would include what many in the state refer to as California’s "second government" – the University of California, Cal State University system and the California community colleges. We didn’t know – did you? – that 20 percent of the CSU’s $6.7 billion budget is out of the public view because that money is being run through foundations and auxiliaries, according to state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo. That amounts to $1.34 billion – a hefty chunk of change. Under present law, foundations and the like do not fall under the California Public Records Act. So if you wanted to know how that portion of the budget was spent, the CSU Chancellor’s Office is under no legal obligation to tell you.

Read full article [here].
by The Editors, The Pasadena Star-News.

Posted: September 9th, 2009, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.