It is during times of crisis that leadership emerges and that our true priorities are set. It is easy to be the leader when the treasury is flush. But when it is not, leadership demands priorities be set. No where is that more manifestly clear than in California's fiscal crisis.

As we have said often, this crisis was caused by a lack of leadership that produced a stupendous spending orgy. The voters apparently agreed and abruptly decided to change the leadership.

Polls indicate the electorate is generally happy with the change it made, but that is misleading. New Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been able to accomplish many things, but they have been relatively easy. Now he must do the dirty work that will erode his popularity.

That is where the priorities comes in. We know from experience that every agency or government unit has a constituency. Each can provide an anecdotal tale of woe that we in the media will lap up. Every cut has a human story. Nonetheless, cuts must be made somewhere.

The danger in making such massive cuts is throwing the baby out with the bath water. We fear that is about to happen -- and, actually, has been happening for the past 10 years -- in the state's community colleges.

There should be no greater priority in the state's education system than keeping its community college system strong. It is the crown jewel of access to higher education in California.

Despite being funded by more than $2,200 per student below the national average, California's 108 community colleges provide top-quality access to higher education for 1.6 million students. These are students from all walks of life and all races. They represent a cross-section of what the governor calls "the people."

One might think such numbers provide a natural constituency, but it has not been the case. The system has never had the clout in Sacramento of either the K-12 crowd or the CSU and UC systems.

Under Proposition 98 community colleges are entitled to 10.93 percent of all Prop. 98 funds each year. But each year the Legislature suspends that provision and, in essence, cynically pits the community colleges against K-12 for the money. The result of this madness is that community colleges have been cumulatively shorted by $2.7 billion over the last 10 years. That is simply wrong.

Schwarzenegger's budget plans to raise tuition at the state's community colleges from $18 per unit to $26 per unit. It also plans a $50-per-unit fee to those who have a bachelor's degree or higher so as to discourage leisurely attendance. We believe the latter is a decent idea but should contain an exemption for people retraining.

As painful as the tuition increase is, $26 per unit remains a bargain, and we understand it may be necessary. But what we do not understand is why that increase doesn't go directly and entirely to the community colleges. Instead it goes into the general fund to plug its budget gap. That, too, is wrong.

Dr. Chuck Spence , the chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District, has proposed to Schwarzenegger that the fee increases be sent directly to the colleges, at least until they are funded at the national average.

That is a fine idea. By doing so, the governor would be clearly stating that community colleges are one of his top priorities. It is a statement we would think the "people's governor," as his Web site calls him, would want to make.

Meanwhile, we urge all graduates and users of the community college system to call, write, fax and e-mail him to help save California's crown jewel:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-445-4633 e-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov.