05/23/2012
During an address to the California Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Gov. Brown urged business leaders to support his revised fiscal year 2012-2013 budget plan and tax hike measure. He warned that if the tax hike measure is not approved, more cuts to services will be necessary. San Jose Mercury News et al.
05/23/2012
The Little Hoover Commission has endorsed Gov. Brown's plan to reorganize the state government. The plan would reduce the number of state agencies from 12 to 10 by consolidating some departments and eliminating others. Sacramento Bee's "The State Worker," Imperial Valley News.
05/23/2012
In a statement released this week, the California School Boards Association endorsed two competing tax hike initiatives -- the compromise tax hike proposal by Gov. Brown and supporters of the "Millionaires Tax," and the tax hike proposal by Los Angeles civil rights attorney Molly Munger. CSBA Executive Director Vernon Billy said that while "each initiative presents a different funding scenario for our schools, the bottom line is that both will generate billions of dollars in much-needed revenue for public education." Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
05/22/2012
Democratic lawmakers likely will disagree with four key proposals in Gov. Brown's revised budget plan that call for cutting CalWORKs, In-Home Supportive Services, child care subsidies and financial aid for certain college students. San Francisco Chronicle.
05/21/2012
A new report by the Legislative Analyst's Office projects that the state budget deficit is larger than Gov. Brown's recent estimate of $15.7 billion. LAO indicated that the deficit could be higher than $17 billion. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Business Journal.
05/21/2012
A proposal in Gov. Brown's revised fiscal year 2012-2013 budget plan to shift most state workers -- including state hospital employees -- to a four-day, 38-hour workweek would create some serious problems, according to an analysis released Friday by the Legislative Analyst's Office. According to LAO, the plan would deter employees from using much of their leave, which would increase the state's deferred costs; would affect intergovernmental agency interactions; and may not reduce energy costs. Sacramento Bee's "The State Worker."
05/18/2012
CalPERS has approved a 5.7% increase in payment rates for state worker pensions in the next fiscal year. The cost increase will be implemented over two years, a strategy that Gov. Brown calls "not a prudent decision." Sacramento Business Journal et al.
05/17/2012
In early 2013, California's skilled nursing facilities could face Medicare payment cuts totaling $75.9 million -- the largest amount of cuts among all states -- if Congress fails to overcome an ongoing budget stalemate, according to a recent study commissioned by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care. Those cuts would come on top of a state proposal to rescind a recent payment hike to close California's $16 billion budget deficit. Payers & Providers.
05/17/2012
Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg continues to support using state budget reserves to avoid making deep cuts to social services programs, despite Standard & Poor's call for lawmakers to avoid the strategy. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
05/16/2012
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, columnist Dan Walters argues that Gov. Brown's revised fiscal year 2012-2013 budget plan "is as much a political document as a fiscal one, clearly aimed at persuading voters to approve new sales and income taxes next November." Walters also suggests that "[Brown's] goal, quite obviously, is to prove to voters that he isn't just asking them to pay more taxes, but is also slashing health and welfare services" and other spending categories. Orange County Register.
05/16/2012
The Legislative Analyst's Office says its revenue projections for California are similar to those included in Gov. Brown's revised budget plan. Previously, LAO had found the projections included in Brown’s initial budget plan to be too optimistic. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
05/16/2012
Orange County Budget Office Director Frank Kim says that the $5.6 billion fiscal year 2012-2013 county budget plan is balanced and free of major cuts. However, he warns that three factors could alter the plan: the overall economy, the state budget crisis and pending lawsuits and claims against the county. KPCC's "KPCC News."
05/16/2012
Gov. Brown's revised fiscal year 2012-2013 budget plan includes deeper cuts to health and welfare programs than his initial proposal, some of which would affect hospitals and social service agencies in the Central Valley. For example, Kaweah Delta Medical Center would lose $16.6 million, or about 14.5% of its Medi-Cal revenue, in the next fiscal year under the revised budget plan, according to Kaweah Delta CEO Lindsay Mann. Fresno Bee.
05/16/2012
Standard & Poor's recommends that lawmakers forgo Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg's idea to use state budget reserves to aid social service programs. S&P says that lawmakers should pursue "credible" budget solutions. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
05/15/2012
Gov. Brown has released his revised budget plan for the next fiscal year. The plan includes deeper Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services cuts than his original plan and maintains proposed cuts to welfare and child care programs. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" et al.