Posted on 05/16/2005 12:56:40 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
This summer's Sacramento budget debate will be more like a return to the old days of 2000.
Instead of agonizing over multibillion-dollar cuts, as has been the featured event of recent years, this time legislators and the governor will be debating how to spend $4 billion in unexpected revenues.
Typically in the past, state politicians would swarm over any surprise windfall like sharks in a feeding frenzy. One-time revenue growth would be carved up by the Legislature as if budget cash flow would never decrease again. This destructive mistake cannot be allowed to happen again.
Our first look at the May 13 budget revision was generally quite heartening. The state's economic picture seems a lot better now than it did when the January budget draft appeared.
Unanticipated new revenue has arrived from a generally improving economy, a successful tax amnesty program and increased property taxes as housing got resold at ever-higher prices.
We're pleased that Gov. Schwarzenegger wants to use the "extra" $4 billion to reduce California's costly debt load, reverse some of the most painful cuts and return $600 million in vehicle license fees to cities and counties.
The governor does not intend to push California further into debt by issuing any of the $1.7 billion in Proposition 57 deficit bonds approved by voters last year. And he wants to leave an extra-large reserve of $1.4 billion, which should help improve the state's credit rating and be a safeguard against any sudden fiscal downturns.
All of this looks to us like solid and responsible planning. But Schwarzenegger's big challenge here will be to fight off the immense and conflicting pressures from powerful legislative blocs seeking to add just a little more spending here and a little more spending there, in support of admittedly worthwhile programs.
Educators are one group that will probably be dissatisfied with the current $115.7 billion budget, although Schwarzenegger has penciled in $230 million to reduce class size in the state's worst performing schools and $57 million for incentive pay to teachers in underachieving schools and for teachers who improve student test scores.
If the governor does call a special election this November, school advocates might get on the ballot to seek the full $2 billion they say statewide voters allocated to classrooms. Advocates for schools, health care, social services, transit, public safety and so many other necessary state services must realize that money is not infinite in California.
The problem is not revenue; it's spending.
We hope that, for a change, our elected officials and the various interest groups will learn they must live within their budgets.
Same problem in WA--spending. The legislators refuse to quit spending.
Give it back to the taxpayers ya wankers!
I know, I know. We're only talking about CA here!!!
WHAT??? Oh... That's right! I forgot all those "crying unment needs" I heard the Liberals peeing and moaning about!!!
I guess it never occurred to RINOld and the rest of the clowns in Sacramento that they just might use the 4 billion to pay down the deficit...
gezzzzzz
I feeel for the Republicans that will again be called to stand in the way as much as they can as the 'lubricators' do their state business to California taxpayers again as the budget process unfolds in all its gory magnificence.
Yeah! Here comes alla that "Big Five" bool chit again!!!
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