Democratic lawmakers Thursday called on California State University Chancellor Charles Reed to temporarily halt installation of a $662 million computer system and redirect millions of dollars to student services that have been slated for budget cuts.

Sen. Richard Alarcón, D-Sun Valley, and Assemblyman Manny Diaz, D-San Jose, sent a letter to Reed, asking the head of the 23-campus CSU to "immediately execute a moratorium on the Common Management System in a feasible and responsible manner."

The lawmakers told Reed to shift $50 million from the $92 million allotted for the computer system to student services such as learning centers, retention programs and academic advisers.
CSU spokeswoman Colleen Bentley-Adler said Reed received the letter Thursday and would respond soon.

"We always pay attention to what legislators ask us to do," Bentley-Adler said. "However, halting implementation of (the computer system) would have major consequences."

Bentley-Adler said any delay would drive up costs and would hurt students who aren't able to electronically register for classes and sign up for financial aid. Campuses have discretion to delay implementation, she said.

Alarcón has been the loudest critic of CSU since state auditor Elaine Howle released a report March 11 that found university officials understated the costs of the computer system by more than $300 million. The audit also revealed that CSU officials failed to do a cost-benefit analysis and gave out consulting contracts without competitive bidding.

The Assembly and Senate budget committees did not vote to redirect CSU funds from the computer system to student services, but a spokesman for Alarcón said the lawmaker will push for the move as budget negotiations continue.