The role of the state in funding California's community colleges may change in the wake of Proposition 13 cutbacks. Any system of statewide support must be developed around several assumptions: (1) state support will increase; (2) the college mission will remain unchanged; (3) educational demand will continue to play a substantial role in how the colleges are funded; (4) costs will continue to rise; and (5) equal opportunity must be maintained. Several legislative bills were introduced to resolve the loss of local tax support which have potential effects on historical traditions of apportionment, local tax advantage options, open access, and student aid policies. Optional financing plans call for either full state support or shared state and local support. Each option has advantages and disadvantages. Arguments in favor of full state support are generally based on maintaining the philosophical and legal principles of local control, open access, no tuition, and comprehensiveness. Arguments for shared support focus on the ideas that a greater local tax can be justified by the significant amount of benefits accrued locally, and that tax encourages strong local commitment. Additionally, a shared system of support is designed around the local option concept which offers incentives for districts to find additional sources of income. (MB)