BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- It's AIDS compassion week, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to slash $80 million in HIV and AIDS funding to help cover the state's deficit.

Those in the HIV and AIDS community said such a measure will cost the state more in the long run. Activists and educators call it a "Save now, pay later" approach.

According to AIDS Project Los Angeles, 34,000 Californians are HIV positive. Three-thousand of them are in Kern County.

The funding cuts would affect prevention, education, testing, treatment and housing.

HIV educators said prevention saves money; otherwise, it costs the state thousands of dollars per HIV-infected person who relies on the state for medication and support services.

If the proposal passes, HIV educators predict skyrocketing numbers of new HIV cases and deaths.

As for those already infected, the governor proposes to slash funding for the state's AIDS drug assistance program.

AIDS patient Chris Pulsifer of East Bakersfield said, "It makes me angry because I rely on these things, and it seems heartless that there's people who need these medicines and the services. For the state to yank the rug out from under them is not fair."

The governor is also proposing stricter income requirements for ADAP applicants.

All of the cuts would reduce federal matching funds to HIV and AIDS programs.

If these proposals pass, the cuts would be effective July 1.