SACRAMENTO -- Thousands of community college students from Salinas and across the state on Monday returned to the Capitol for a second year to complain that state policymakers continue to tarnish the Golden State's promise of higher education.

After suffering a 64 percent fee increase last year, community college students this year are facing a proposal for another 44 percent boost.

"The governor's proposals on fees are unacceptable," Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, told students with signs saying "Cut Fees, not Classes" and "Keep the Door Open."

Rally participants, who set up mannequins symbolizing students who dropped out after last year's fee increases, said additional increases will make it difficult for some students to continue and an inadequate budget will make it harder for them to get classes.

"It will be really hard for me to come back" if fees go up, said Ruben Sanchez, 19, a sophomore at Hartnell College in Salinas, who said he also works as a door-to-door scheduler for window installation.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget calls for increasing fees from $18 per unit now to $26 for students without a degree. Last budget year, this fee was $11 per unit.

Schwarzenegger proposes to increase General Fund support for community colleges from $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion. The total budget for 2004-05 -- which also includes property taxes, federal and lottery funds, student fees and other revenue -- is $6.9 billion.

Community colleges are the only part of higher education that would get an increase under the governor's plan. The University of California and California State University face cuts as well as likely fee increases.

Higher cost, fewer classes

Rally participants were particularly unimpressed with Schwarzenegger's argument that the community colleges are the only ones in higher education that would get a boost in his budget. Part of that increase is to help pay for the increased number of students that he wants to begin their college career in the two-year schools before gong on to UC or CSU.

Jose Tapia, 20, also a sophomore at Hartnell College, said he had to wait until this semester to take a pre-calculus class because it was canceled in the fall.

Irene Rasmussen, the Hartnell student activities coordinator, said an inadequate number of classes is a widespread problem, especially in sciences and upper-division math.

"We are struggling to keep our heads above water," Rasmussen said.

Schwarzenegger's office estimates that 7,000 students will be diverted from four-year public colleges to community colleges next year and the budget would fund about 30,000 more students.

University pipeline

But community college officials have said the student increase, including normal growth, could be closer to 50,000 students.

"They are just trying to pit us against each other," said Sharolyn Robinson, a 35-year old pre-nursing student at Hartnell College.

Inside the Capitol, legislators offered varied views about the proposed community college increases.

Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, said he opposes any fee increase, but touted his bill to require a 90-day interval between approval of a fee increase and when it would take effect.

"There are two issues here," Denham said. "There's the fee increase and the unfair notification of these fee increases."

Sen. Bruce McPherson, R-Santa Cruz, reluctantly said the fee increase may be necessary.

"We need to protect the integrity of the system," McPherson said, "and I'm sorry to say at this time, it looks like we are going to have to have this increase to do it."

"It will be really hard for me to come back" if fees go up, said Ruben Sanchez, 19, a sophomore at Hartnell College, who said he also works as a door-to-door scheduler for window installation.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget calls for increasing fees from $18 per unit now to $26 for students without a degree. Last budget year, this fee was $11 per unit.

Schwarzenegger proposes to increase General Fund support for community colleges from $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion. The total budget for 2004-05 -- which also includes property taxes, federal and lottery funds, student fees and other revenue -- is $6.9 billion.

Community colleges are the only part of higher education that would get an increase under the governor's plan. The University of California and California State University face cuts as well as likely fee increases.

Rally participants were particularly unimpressed with Schwarzenegger's argument that the community colleges are the only ones in higher education that would get a boost in his budget. Part of that increase is to help pay for the increased number of students that he wants to begin their college career in the two-year schools before gong on to UC or CSU.

Jose Tapia, 20, also a sophomore at Hartnell College, said he had to wait until this semester to take a pre-calculus class because it was canceled in the fall.

Irene Rasmussen, the Hartnell student activities coordinator, said an inadequate number of classes is a widespread problem, especially in sciences and upper-division math. "We are struggling to keep our heads above water," Rasmussen said.

Schwarzenegger's office estimates that 7,000 students will be diverted from four-year public colleges to community colleges next year and the budget would fund about 30,000 more students.

But community college officials have said the student increase, including normal growth, could be closer to 50,000 students.

"They are just trying to pit us against each other," said Sharolyn Robinson, a 35-year old pre-nursing student at Hartnell College.

Inside the Capitol, legislators offered varied views about the proposed community college increases. Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, said he opposes any fee increase, but touted his bill to require a 90-day interval between approval of a fee increase and when it would take effect. "There are two issues here," Denham said. "There's the fee increase and the unfair notification of these fee increases."

Sen. Bruce McPherson, R-Santa Cruz, reluctantly said the fee increase may be necessary. "We need to protect the integrity of the system," McPherson said, "and I'm sorry to say at this time, it looks like we are going to have to have this increase to do it."