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Who you recently voted for has no bering on this legislation at all. Your newly elected state congress members will not be sworn in until January.

And I voted for Bob Barr.

 

True.

This is all bad nonetheless.

 

I've been saying for over a year that we're going to have to collectively swallow a bitter pill

Sad part is the biggest draw on the budget is the school system, yet it keeps getting cut. What needs to happen is the CA education system needs to be taken apart from the inside out to examine costs. But that's like trying to change the oil while bounding through the twisties. I had this wacky idea of some computer algorithim doing the analysis, not a human or group of people which are subject to influence.

I would much rather we get a *temporary* sales tax increase than to see more cuts to education, health & human services, etc. Its a whole difference view when you work under the ire of The State you guys. Why do you think all summer guys were getting popped for mods...TO GENERATE REVENUE. Would you rather be able to drive around and not need to live in your rear view mirror, or pay a couple bucks extra the next time you go buy groceries?

Lets face it, they relied on the real estate market & its associated revenue stream to keep the state afloat, & failed. Its time to man up soon, if we wait it will be another $10 billion in cuts. This from a guy who voted no on anything that increased property taxes, which when enacted just don't ever get throttled back because the govt (federal or state) isn't in the habit of giving back what its already got.

 

here's a thought... maybe the state and local governments should look to big business for ways to save money.

"shared services" comes to my mind. shared HR, payroll, accounting, etc. for ALL state agencies. counties should do this too.

here's an example:
sacramento county has 13 different school districts. that's 13 different HR departments, 13 different payroll departments, 13 different accounting departmens, 13 different school boards, 13 different superintendents, etc... if they operated like a large corporation, they would have one of each of those "overhead" departments, but each would still be able to operate semi-autonomously so long as they follow certain guidelines.

 

Most likely there would be nothing temporary about it because the spending would just increase along with the new cash inflow, so you would have a brand new deficit come next year..and they would need to keep the tax to prevent a bigger deficit at that point. State departments purposefully overspend in order to justify the inflation of their "required" budgets for coming years [and keep special interests and their cronies happy]. They get used to having additional money when they need it, it teaches them nothing. Its a stupid concept cause there is no accountability.

Also, I have no problem paying any tax if I know it goes to a good cause and funds the operation of an efficient system...which is so never been the case. The increase in tax is really no different that the Federal bail outs of all the troubled companies. It is merely temporarily treating the symptoms and not the cause of the problem, which is too often terribly inefficient and backwards and wasteful system.

For me it would be no different from the argument of giving Detroit 3 funding infusion; unless state departments present clear logical and concise plans on how they will use the money to restructure the issues that lead to the deficit...they are getting no sympathy or money.

 

I gurantee you there are plenty of simple changes that can be made which are "normal" in s typical business environment that can provide a great start to restructuring...without the need to grind everything down to a halt.

Does anyone remember the thread on how Cali state people get an unlimited gas cards and state vehicles paid for the taxpayers, which are supposed to be used only for state business...but are not tracked, regulated, audited etc etc etc? How about cutting that out because from all reasonableness, their use extended far beyond just work related purposes.

Than again, absolute power corrupts absolutely and no politician will vote or support changes that might constrict their power and operating frivolousness in their particular area.