Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic leaders have come up with a plan to freeze tuition rates at California's public universities if voters approve a tax hike in November.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said Monday that lawmakers will move a budget-related bill that appropriates an extra $125 million each for University of California and California State University in the 2013-14 academic year.

The money will be made available to the UC system if the board agrees not to increase fees this year. The CSU would have to rescind a $500 increase that is going into effect this fall.

Brown and Democratic lawmakers are relying on taxes to balance much of the state's $15.7 billion shortfall. The measure would raise the sales tax statewide and income taxes on high earners.