In 2000-2003 state governments were cash-strapped as they suffered the aftermath of the stock market tech bubble and 9/11. Did you know that 1 million jobs were lost in the U.S. in the month after 9/11? Because of the states budgeting crises, public universities found their budgets under fire. When budget cuts/freezes were enacted in the 2000-2003 periods and again in 2008-2011, schools were shocked at the size of the changes in their budgets. Now in 2020-2022 with the COVID-19 virus, states revenues have dropped precipitously with businesses being closed, at times, nationwide as the economy sputtered forward. Many of these budget cuts in 2008 and now came during the school year when contractual commitments with faculty and staff had been signed, programs had been planned, and students were enrolled and taking classes. Some state governments are faced with potentially more draconian cuts to their budgets with uncertain times ahead. Many states have already come to Washington, DC to join the bailout line. Lets consider how universities may handle budget cuts.

Question

5. Some states such as California seem to be in a state of budget urgency. Californias public university system (UC and Cal State) is the largest in the country. Evaluate the moral obligation of a taxpayer in Maine (or any other state) to bail out California to save their university system. What options are available?