Dear colleagues, friends and stakeholders,
Great news! Governor Newsom, in agreement with the state legislative leadership, has announced full restoration of UC's budget for the next fiscal year. This was part of the UC Regent's budget request this year, and we are thrilled to see it moving forward. For UC ANR, that means the 12.7% cut we sustained in FY 2020/21 will be restored, bringing our budget back to pre-COVID levels for FY 2021/22.
The ink has yet to dry on this agreement, so we still have work to do and we need your help. Will you thank the Legislature for their support and ask that they continue to support critical investments in UC ANR?
There are two upcoming budget subcommittee hearings where state lawmakers will specifically discuss UC's FY2021-22 budget. This is our chance to set the tone during budget negotiations, and providing public comment is one of the highest impact actions you can take. These hearings are on March 1 and March 9. If you're interested in participating, please email Anne Megaro at ammegaro@ucanr.edu.
Historically, public comment has only been available to those who could attend hearings in-person; however, due to the pandemic, the Legislature now allows anyone to dial-in and participate – which means even more UC advocates can make their voices heard!
Prefer advocating for UC via social media? Sending a tweet on Twitter is a quick and effective way to express your support for UC.
Did you know that UC has a digital advocacy network? Stay informed of important budget hearings and calls to action by signing up to for the UC Advocacy Network. By joining, you'll learn how you can advocate for UC and stay updated on the latest issues impacting higher education.
Sample tweets/posts:
Let's tell the Legislature what we are doing and why funding for UC is critical. Effective tweets and posts should include:
- Your relationship with UC ANR (legislators might not know that 4-H, Master Gardeners, or even Cooperative Extension are part of UC ANR, so make sure to mention UC ANR along with your programmatic connection!)
- Why you care about UC ANR/ the impact it has on you, your family, your business, or your community.
- An ask for “full budget restoration”
Example tweet/post:
4-H has been a bright light for my children and community while sheltering in place. We immediately went to work one year ago making masks to protect loved ones and healthcare workers. As a program within UC ANR, we rely on critical state funding. Please fully restore UC ANR's budget! @yourrepresentative (add a personal photo if you wish).
Please share this message with your community partners and friends who are eager to lend their voice to support UC ANR funding. Your advocacy truly helps!
Thank you!
Glenda Humiston
Vice President