Budget and Resource Planning
- Administration and Finance
- Budget
- Our Current Budget Status
Our Current Budget Status
This budget information is current as of 11/1/24. This page will continue to be updated as we have more information and updates to share.
Below you can find information on Fresno State’s overall budget for fiscal year 2024-25, budget strategies utilized to ensure a balanced budget based upon CSU budget allocation, and campus contributions to unfunded mandatory cost increases. Our commitment to transparency remains at the core of our budget planning, ensuring that our campus community is informed of systemwide and campus decisions.
Fresno State, like all CSU campuses, is impacted by statewide budget constraints due to lower-than-expected tax revenues in California. This year, even though the CSU has an increase in tuition and has secure funding, our campus is responsible for covering a significant portion of mandatory costs, such as negotiated employee salary increases, as these were not fully funded by the State or the CSU system. This lower support from the Governor and the Legislature has resulted in the need to reduce operating budgets to balance the overall campus budget. In addition, the CSU competes with critical areas of need in our State, from housing insecurity to social programs and initiatives –the CSU does not have a secure budget line item in the State’s budget.
Fresno State has already implemented several cost-saving measures to mitigate the impact of the reduced state revenue. These include:
- Hiring Freeze: We’ve instituted a hiring freeze on all non-essential positions. Active employee searches critical to campus operations will continue, but any new exceptions will require approval from the Division VP and President.
- Purchasing and Travel Restrictions: Effective in Spring 2024, we restricted non-essential purchases and travel to help reduce expenditures. Only mission-critical expenditures will be considered.
- Budget Reduction Plans: Each Cabinet member was tasked with developing a budget reduction plan that takes into account the projected shortfall for FY 2025/26 primarily focusing on any position consolidation or reorganization that could impact our number of MPP positions and overall employee FTE. Currently, the Cabinet is looking into the strategic reduction of MPP positions, as a first step in meeting the current budgetary challenge.
Despite the 6% increase in tuition, Fresno State is still faced with a budget shortfall due to significant unfunded mandatory cost increases. The tuition increase will generate $7.8 million for Fresno State. Only two thirds (approximately $5.2 million) of the tuition increase can be used to address budgetary needs, as the remaining one third ($2.6 million) must be used exclusively for financial aid for students (State University Grants). The remaining balance of $5.2 million is not enough to fully cover rising operational costs and unfunded mandates (e.g. utilities have increased 20% each year, insurance premiums, health benefits, and union-negotiated compensation increases) that have not been funded by the State to the CSU. In 2024/25, the university covered 78% of the union-negotiated compensation increase from our own permanent base funding (general fund).
This year, the State of California experienced lower-than-expected tax revenues, which affected its budget allocation to CSU (reduced by $75 million), leaving campuses like Fresno State responsible for covering a significant portion of mandatory costs—such as employee salary increases—that were not fully funded. As a result, Fresno State must manage a portion of these recurring necessary operational expenses that are not covered by the increased tuition revenue.
Dear Colleagues,
This last Friday, the Governor delivered the May revised budget, and the outcome for the California State University system is very concerning.
As you recall, based on the California Master Plan for Higher Education of 1960:
The University of California forms part of the California constitution and therefore enjoys constitutional autonomy – they present a budget, and the Governor and Legislator do their best to comply.
Prop 98 appropriates 45% of the Legislature’s budget (revenue comes from annual taxes generated) for K-16, which includes our community college partners.
This scenario leaves the CSU as a discretionary budget line that is dependent upon State tax revenues and vulnerable to budget cuts.
To mitigate this situation, Governor Newsom agreed to a five-year Compact with the CSU two years ago – each year, the State would allocate $240 million to support enrollment growth for the system.
Given that the tax revenues are not as strong as last years’, the Governor is proposing the following:
- To postpone the $240 million compact funding (Year 3) from 2024-25 until 2025-26. Each University may be expected to use its own reserves to cover the deferral. Fresno State’s contribution could be approximately $12 million (5%). In addition, the Governor is proposing a one-time budget reduction of $75 million in FY 2024/25.
- In 2025-26, the State would provide the CSU with that year’s $240 million allocation, plus the previous year’s $240 million that was deferred from 2024/25.
- Yet, in 2025-26, the State would also implement an 8% budget cut to the CSU. This 8% cut would erode most of the $480 million for 2025-26 to approximately $98 million. A reduction of $380 million, or approximately $20 million for our campus, in FY 2025/26.
What does this mean for Fresno State?
We will have to implement a hiring freeze and purchasing restrictions on non-essential travel as well as restricting non-essential expenditures, effective immediately. This does not apply to active employee searches that are critical to campus operations already in progress. Any hiring exceptions will need to be approved by both the Division VP/Cabinet member and myself.
Unfortunately, our campus does not have permanent base funding to cover this projected shortfall. The factors contributing to this shortfall include a decrease in actual tuition revenue earned, 55% of the annual cost of recent compensation increases for which Fresno State is responsible, significant increases for electricity (20% increase each year), as well as increases in employee benefit costs.
In addition to implementing a hiring freeze and restricting all non-essential travel and non-essential operating expenditures, I have asked each Cabinet member to develop a budget reduction plan that considers the projected reductions in both FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26.
I recognize that budget uncertainties cause understandable concern, and I want to commit to all of you that we will provide transparent and ongoing communication as the budget conversations continue. I also commit to you that I will advocate, at every possible opportunity, for our Fresno State and our noble goal of educating our Valley’s brightest.
Sincerely,
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President
This section houses essential documents, links, and other resources that community members can access for more in-depth information about Fresno State’s 2024-25 budget.
Message from the President
"Fresno State is committed to being transparent and making the best decisions we can during these budget challenges. Our 2024-25 budget situation is due to reductions in state funding, and thanks to the hard work and careful planning of our leadership team, with input from many across campus, we’ve managed to balance the budget without sacrificing our mission or laying off faculty or staff. I’m proud to share that, unlike some other CSU campuses, Fresno State does not anticipate further budget cuts this fiscal year. My top priority is always to protect student success and to ensure our faculty and staff are recognized for their hard work—because they are essential to our success."
- President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval