The state's bookkeeping watchdogs have some good ideas for saving money.

They would release elderly prison inmates to home detention; they'd abolish funding for the Young Men as Fathers Program; they'd use electronic recorders instead of some court reporters; they'd defer money for flood control; they'd reduce state assistance to homeless shelters.

Tucked in among the dozens of trims, snips and outright hacks recommended by the Legislative Analyst's Office is at least one very bad idea: "Reduce base funding for UC Merced ... to $5 million."

That would be a 75 percent reduction from the governor's proposed budget and an 84 percent cut from previous funding levels.

While the legislative analyst offers good reasons for many of its proposed cuts, the only rationale it provides for attacking the University of California at Merced with a chain saw is that the school did not give its office justification for its budget request. That's not a good enough reason for making such drastic, far-reaching cuts.

The suggestion ends with this note: "This option could further delay the campus."

Further delay? As in beyond the generations the Central Valley has already been without a UC? As in beyond this fall, when Gov. Davis promised the university would open? As in beyond the current 2005 scheduled opening? Or further delay as in never? The Legislative Analyst's Office doesn't say.

The campus is literally taking shape. Buildings and infrastructure are under construction. Professors are refining their course outlines. Services are being created. The state has already spent $350 million in preparing the campus, money that can't be unspent.

Shorting the university $15 million will have dire repercussions. Most important among them is the impact on students, especially those eagerly awaiting the campus's opening.

If that happens, some of the blame belongs to UC Merced. University officials know they're fighting for their institution's life. That they did not respond to the analyst's request for justification is unacceptable. The university must be vigilant in making its case whenever and wherever necessary.

The best way to prove the value of UC Merced is to get it open and start educating students. Another postponement would be wasting money already invested, not saving money.

Cutting $15 million from UC Merced saves 0.0001 percent of the state's general-fund spending next year. It's a minuscule amount to the state, but hugely important to the valley. No further delay is acceptable for UC Merced.