SACRAMENTO, Calif. >>  The 112-campus California Community Colleges system may be forced to enroll 400,000 fewer students and cut thousands of classes because of the state budget impasse and funding shortages.

Chancellor Jack Scott said during a telephone news briefing Wednesday that community colleges funding cuts are tragic for students hoping to continue their education and transfer to universities.

Nearly three million students attend state community colleges.

The Los Angeles Times says California Community Colleges will likely be forced to absorb an $800 million reduction in funding, double the amount suggested in Gov. Jerry Brown’s current budget proposal.

The proposed budget raises community college student fees from $26 to $36 per unit, but they could be raised higher if a budget compromise is not reached.