January 22, 2026
Dear Members of the UC Santa Barbara Community,
As Winter Quarter gets underway, we are writing with an update regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance transparency around the campus budget. It is important that we foster a shared understanding of the current financial situation so we can strategically position our campus for continued success going forward.
In response to community feedback and because budget terminology can be complex and nuanced, the Office of Budget and Planning has created a budget webpage to provide clear, consistent information that explains our campus budget and the steps we are taking to ensure financial stability. The site will be updated on an ongoing basis to keep our community informed of our progress and relevant developments.
In this context, the site highlights Governor Newsom’s recently released 2026-27 Proposed Budget. This budget includes a proposed increase in base funding for the University of California system and restoration of some previously deferred resources.
Despite this welcome news from the Governor’s Office, there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that our expenses do not continue to exceed our revenues. Those budget challenges and headwinds that higher ed institutions are facing today stem from the rapid escalation of human resource costs and other inflationary pressures in the post-pandemic economy, compounded by uncertainties in federal funding policies.
In consultation with the Academic Senate and with guidance from the Joint Senate-Administrative Strategic Planning and Financial Stability Committee, we are continuing to address the budget and the funding challenges our campus is facing. We welcome your ideas for cost savings, enhancing operational excellence, and new revenue growth opportunities. The site has a feedback form to share your thoughts.
Prudent stewardship of our resources is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can ensure that the decisions we make today enable our campus to be financially sustainable and thrive for years to come.
Sincerely,
Dennis Assanis, Chancellor
Kerry Bierman, Interim Vice Chancellor & Chief Financial Officer