Assemblymember Garcia, Mayes and Supervisor Perez Urge Budget Subcommittee.
(SACRAMENTO, CA)— Yesterday, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) joined Minority Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) in making a $10 million budget ask to help the California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB Palm Desert) to expand. This request would bring in critical General Fund dollars on an annual basis to broaden opportunities for higher education in Eastern Riverside County.
Last spring, CSUSB Palm Desert released their draft expansion master plan which delineated their intent to add new majors, classes, at least nine new academic buildings and the capacity for approximately 7,000 more students.
Assemblymembers Garcia and Mayes submitted a joint letter to Chairman Ting of the Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance requesting an additional $10 million annually from the General Fund to support these plans by outlining the extensive benefits to the Californian economy.
“Investments in higher education are an absolute prerequisite to boosting economic development, expanding jobs and counteracting poverty within this region,” exclaimed Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. “Palm Desert’s CSUSB campus is close to exceeding maximum capacity. Riverside County and the Coachella Valley in particular are some of the fastest growing areas in the state. This is the perfect opportunity to leverage state dollars toward building up the skilled, local workforce necessary to meet current and future employment demands and ensure that our community is equipped to thrive.”
Garcia’s predecessor and current Riverside County Supervisor, Manuel Perez supports this effort to infuse additional state dollars into CSUSB Palm Desert.
“Expanding CSUSB Palm Desert Campus will make higher education more attainable locally to under-served communities. It will strengthen our region’s economy with new professional positions and education and workforce training,” said Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, a member of the Palm Desert Campus Advancement Board. “I join Assemblymembers Garcia and Mayes in requesting additional state investment and commend them for recognizing the vision and valuable potential of this vital campus.”
“If approved, this funding will be utilized to empower the dreams and educational pursuits of residents for a more prosperous California,” concluded Assemblymember Garcia.
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Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife. He represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
