Two Rostrum articles were published in May.
Whereas, The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) provides a review and analysis of the operations and finances of state government to the Legislature and is the office that acts as the main nonpartisan resource in fiscal matters to legislators and their staff members;
Whereas, The LAO has historically made recommendations about education in its publications, such as “The 2011-12 Budget: Prioritizing Course Enrollment at the Community Colleges”; and
Whereas, Many of the LAO recommendations are simplistic and they ignore many complex aspects of the California Community College System and individual districts;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges remind local senates that the Legislative Analyst’s Office is a nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor and not a decision-making body and as such does not create state mandates;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage local senates to critically review the LAO reports and engage in collegial discussions about their recommendations and the potential application to their local college; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges ask local senates to communicate with their local administrators, boards, and legislators that the LAO is a nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor and not a decision-making body and as such does not create state mandates.
MSU Disposition: Local Senates