Student fees may increase to $26 per unit next semester. The addition was recommended to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan organization that advises the legislature on fiscal and policy issues.

The community colleges are apportioned $130 million from the state, said Vice Chancellor of Business and Administrative Services Sue Johnnson. The fee increase would go directly to the state to compensate for the cuts made to education.

“Hopefully that would result in less of a budget reduction to the district, but not necessarily,” Johnson said. The cuts were recommended in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s declaration of a fiscal emergency on Nov. 6. Schwarzenegger, however, did not recommend a community college fee increase.

If the fee increase recommendation reaches the legislature, it will require a two-thirds vote to be approved. Moorpark College president Dr. Pam Eddinger expects the effects on enrollment to balance out.

“In the past, we have experienced some enrollment drop when the fee increased,” Eddinger said. “But you’d need to juxtapose that against the fact that, traditionally, students return to community colleges to upgrade skills or to prepare for a new career when the economy is distress.” The increase has its positive sides, however. Eddinger and Johnson said this could result in more students qualifying for the Board of Governor’s fee waivers and Pell grants. At $26 per unit, the amount of money received from the Pell grant is maximized. Ventura College president Dr. Robin Calote had similar concerns.

“It is ironic that just as community access to education becomes even more critical to the economic futures of our students, that access is hampered by an increase in the enrollment fees,” Calote said. “Nonetheless, the California community college system remains relatively affordable in comparison to private colleges, the state college and university system, and the community college systems in other states.”