Organization’s Letterhead
April 22, 2025
The Honorable Gavin Newsom The Honorable Mike McGuire
Governor President pro Tempore of the Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 9000 1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker of the Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Prevent Cuts to the CSU and its Universities
Dear Governor Newsom, Pro Tem McGuire and Speaker Rivas, The City of Cotati (City) respectfully requests that state funding for the California State University (CSU) system not be cut by $375 million, and that the financial commitments outlined in the Multi-Year Compact be upheld in the 2025-26 state budget.
We are well aware that the state faces competing budget priorities, but cutting the CSU’s funding will not only limit the state’s economic growth, it will also curtail the ability for thousands of CSU students to graduate on time and enter the workforce. The CSU and its universities are strong and committed partners in our region’s economic growth. The City is an employer of Sonoma State University graduates and partner in various community programs, including police dispatch and mobile mental health crisis support for our combined communities.
Fully funding the CSU will allow the system to continue increasing graduation rates and expanding access to higher education, and to guarantee fair pay for its employees. The CSU plays a critical role in providing for the social mobility of thousands of California students and their families, graduating over 125,000 individuals each year. Twelve CSU universities are ranked in the top 25 nationwide on the Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Social Mobility Ranking.
We are excited about the CSU’s future, as the system had its largest freshman class ever in 2024, offers innovative academic programs critical to our industry, and is expanding access to its universities through new enrollment pathways. To ensure the continued growth and prosperity of California’s economy, it is essential that the CSU has the resources it needs to produce a highly skilled workforce.
The CSU represents the best of what California has to offer in terms of workforce development and social mobility. We are greatly concerned that the proposed cut will result in irreparable harm, as campuses will need to cut up to $30 million from their budgets if these cuts are not averted. The proposed budget cuts will result in a less prepared workforce and harm our state’s economy. We strongly believe that investing in the CSU should be a top priority in the 2025-26 state budget, and we urge that the CSU is not cut $375 million as part of any budget agreement.
Thank you for your consideration of this request and should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ben Ford
Mayor
cc: The Honorable Scott Wiener, Chair, Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review The Honorable Jesse Gabriel, Chair, Assembly Committee on Budget The Honorable John Laird, Chair, Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Subcommittee #1
The Honorable David Alvarez, Chair, Assembly Committee on Budget, Subcommittee #3