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Oh yes, the California budget

The self-indulgent frivolities that California legislators use to fill their days would make you believe that we have no budget problems at all!

Au contraire….

Today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for laying off thousands of state employees (it might be nice to start with the legislature :-) ) and cutting billions from education to attempt to cope with our latest state budget deficit. The billions of dollars in spending cuts and tax increases have not kept pace with the loss of tax revenues during the current recession.

California faces a deficit of $15.4 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1, as a “best case scenario” if voters pass budget-related issues in the special election next week. If voters do not, the deficit will grow to $21.3 billion.

Not bad for a STATE, huh? :-)

(Note added May 23, 2009: As is a matter of history now, California voters turned down all of the budget-related issues except for one, 1F, which prohibits pay increases for some elected officials, including the Legislature and the Governor, in years without a balanced budget.)

Personal income has dropped statewide for the first time since 1938, which has led to a sharp drop in revenue.

Starting tomorrow, the administration will send layoff notices to 5000 state government employees, a move designed to cut the workforce by 5%. The California Highway Patrol will be spared in the latest round of layoffs.

Governor Schwarzenegger proposed transferring illegal immigrants in the state prison system to federal custody and releasing thousands of nonviolent inmates before their sentences are up. He also wants to sell state property, including Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and San Quentin State Prison, and to borrow $6 billion and take $2 billion from local governments.

-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™

You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. Apparel and other gifts decorated with some of our most popular photos can be ordered from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Both Shutterfly™ and CafePress® ship to most international locations worldwide! If you don’t see what you want or would like to receive an email when new photos are up on the site, send us an email at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.

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