Date
The Honorable (Name)
California State Senate/Assembly
State Capital, Room (#)
City, State, Zip

Re: Governor’s May Revision Proposal 08-09 Fiscal Year

Dear Assembly Member (Name):

**PERSONALIZATION NEEDED** Begin by introducing yourself, tell a little about yourself and the campus you or your children currently attend or are an alumnus of.

The Governor’s May revision, while seeking to restore some critical funding to the California State University, still falls short of the minimum needed to stop the door from closing on qualified students’ admission to the CSU. At this crucial economic juncture, it is imperative that the CSU continues to get the resources it needs to produce a highly skilled workforce and increase college-going rates of underserved communities in California.

The CSU still faces $215 million in reduced funding and serious fiscal challenges, plus $124 million in mandatory cost increases not covered by state funds, including rising health care and energy bills. Without funding to mitigate these costs, students will be facing a closed door when trying to enter the CSU this fall and current students may see an eroding quality of education.

I believe this is the wrong direction for the state to go; cuts to the CSU will only hurt California’s economy by reducing the number of qualified and trained individuals in key job industries.

**PERSONALIZATION NEEDED** Talk about what applies directly to you, what field are you in (Industries that rely on CSU graduates: Engineering, Nursing, Business, Agriculture, Life Sciences, Education, Public Administration, and Criminal Justice).

I urge the legislature to recognize the high return on investments in higher education by resisting further budget cuts and making higher education a fiscal priority. California’s future depends on fully funding the CSU, and I look forward to hearing your response in this matter.

Sincerely,
**(Your Name)