LONG BEACH >> Next year’s budget will be on the minds of California State University trustees this week when they gather here to examine a preliminary proposal that seeks at least $100 million more than what Gov. Jerry Brown plans for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

A framework budget presented by Robert Turnage, assistant vice chancellor for the CSU, will aim for roughly $250 million in new ongoing state funding, which eclipses Brown’s $142.5 million proposal for next year.

CSU’s “first blush” budget plan, which will be refined and approved by the Board of Trustees in November before going to the state Department of Finance ahead of the January budget, reflects the university’s true funding needs, Turnage said.

“I think our concerns are several-fold, but they revolve in a big way around students, being able to serve more of them and serve them better,” Turnage said.

CSU is hopeful state revenues next year will grow. At the same time, CSU finance officials contend they can balance spending needs with what can reasonably be requested from the state, and an additional $85 million in tuition fee revenue projected from enrollment growth.

CSU can massage its budget if it must stay within Brown’s proposal, but preliminary plans call for $160 million to meet enrollment demands; a pool of $90 million for potential employee pay increases; $50 million to help improve graduation rates; mandatory costs such as health benefits, energy and new space at $20 million; as well as maintenance and infrastructure financing at $15 million to help cover items such as aging water and electrical systems.

Annual spending at CSU would then stand at $4.4 billion, according to finance officials.

Proposition 30, passed by voters in November, and modest economic improvements led to a $125 million increase to CSU in the 2013-14 budget.

But California continues to face economic challenges that may impact CSU funding.

A finance report to trustees published in the board agenda warns that Brown is aiming to take $315 million from the General Fund reserve of $1.1 billion, in response to prison overcrowding and related federal court rulings. That could go to $400 million for fiscal year 2014-15.

California’s fire season this year may force legislators to pull from “the General Fund reserve to a significant extent,” according to the report.

Those issues are stacked on top of national economic concerns that could impact the state, including the debt ceiling and federal budget fights.

If CSU is forced to work within Brown’s projected budget for the system, there likely will be less money for compensation increases, and more students facing closed doors on the 23 campuses.

“I think probably the most stressful part it in terms of having to scale things back is our ability to fund enrollments,” Turnage said. “It means that we have to keep turning away thousands of eligible students, and that to me is the most distressing part.”

Trustees will meet Tuesday and Wednesday at the Office of the Chancellor, 401 Golden Shore.

Contact Josh Dulaney at 562-714-2150.