Budget problems of the California State University were discussed Thursday by California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz and Vice President Kim Geron during a conference call.

While the CSU Board of Trustees may grant itself another pay raise, the proposal of another 10 percent student fee increase is expected.

Ever since student fee increases were implemented in 2003, the cost of tuition has gone up almost 100 percent, Geron said.

Taiz said the CSU budget is still less than it was five years ago.

“Back in 2002, our budget took a half billion dollar hit. Here we are in 2007 and we still have not been able to recover,” she said.

Taiz said with overflowing classrooms and canceled classes, students “are paying more and getting less.”

“This is the very first meeting of the year and their very first order of business is raising their own pay,” she said.

Assembly Bill 1413 is awaiting approval by the governor. If passed, it will allow the governor to appoint representatives that will give the legislature more oversight over the Trustees.

The Trustees will hold its first meeting Sept. 18 and 19.

Michael Spitler can be reached at [email protected].