5/15 - Ah geez. CA is in tough financial straits. Memo from my supervisor today -

[pinto]

Ah geez. CA is in tough financial straits. Memo from my supervisor today -

$24.6 million Eliminate State HIV education & prevention programs

Forward of an email. And the political battle for the special election on fiscal referenda is heating up. ~ pinto

This is a summary from legislative analyst (this is just the Governor Proposed Budget)

2009/2010 May Revision of the CA State Budget (It assumes $15 billion in debt if initiatives pass. If ballot measures fails, the deficit increases an additional $5.8 billion)

PROPOSALS
Consolidation of a number of agencies, department, programs, etc as well as elimination of numerous Boards, Increase State funds through long term leases and sales of State property

PROGRAM SAVINGS (Partial list that includes cuts to State employees)
$120.2 million eliminate cash assistance program and food assistance programs for immigrants
$125 million reduce MediCal assistance for newly qualified legal immigrants over age of 20. (pregnant women exc)
$40.8 million limit In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) to most functionally impaired
$382 million limit IHSS share of cost to most functionally impaired
$114.1 million limit State participation in IHSS wages ($8.60 an hour)
$248.5 million limits Supplemental Security Income Grant (SSI/SSP) to $830 a month individual, $1,407 a month couple
$156.7 million CalWorks reform and cost containment
$87.5 million Cal Grants cost containment (lower student grants for higher education)

MAJOR NEW PROPOSALS (Partial list)
$234 million increase saving target for developmental services
$75 million MediCal, Pharmacy reforms
$20 million MediCal (10% payment cuts to private hospitals)
$36.8 million MediCal (roll back provider rate increases for family planning)
$15.8 million IHSS antifraud initiative
$1,020 billion UC/CSU funding reduction
$1.0 billion Reduce Proposition 98 funding

REVENUE ACCELERATION/FEES
$2.8 million increase Veteran Homes Resident fees
$610 million accelerate estimated payments to 40% liability
There are also numerous new proposals for fund shifts
$6 billion BORROW


IF THE PROPOSITIONS FAIL IN THE MAY 19 ELECTION THEN THE FOLLOWING CUTS ARE PROPOSED TO MAKE UP THE STATE FINANCIAL LOSSES (New Contingency Proposals)

$182.1 million targeted reductions in prison populations
$99.9 million change sentencing options for low-level offenders
$24.6 million eliminate State HIV education & prevention programs
S10 million eliminate Maternal, Child & Adolescent Grants
$20.4 million cuts from Domestic Violence Programs
$301.5 IHSS cost containment measure
$83.9 million child welfare programs
$199.9 million reductions to UC/CSU
$2.660 billion reduction to Proposition 98 funding
$54.5 million lower eligibility for Healthy Families Program
$25.5 million reduce adult day health care
$2.9 million suspend children*s dental disease prevention
$5.9 million eliminate State funding for CA Poison Control System

REVENUE INCREASE PROPOSALS
Fee increases for CA State Parks
Redirect $60 million in Proposition 99 funds from county health, clinics, Breast Cancer Early Detection Program, asthma programs,
Major Risk Medical Insurance Program, and Access for Infants and Mothers Program
Borrow $1.982 billion from the counties

[CubicleGuy]

1. I really doubt any of the props will pass on Tuesday...

... with the exception of the one that stops the legislators from getting any raises when the budget isn't balanced. In the election materials that are sent out, do you know what the main argument against passing that proposition is?

That it's a childish way to lash out at the politicians, and that the voters should really be above doing such childish things.

That's their argument.

I'm voting against all of the props myself (with the exception of the "don't be childish" one) on the priciple that this is an attempt by the folks in Sacramento to pass the buck onto the voters.

What they need to do is scrap the entire budget, along with all of the mandates that specify the percentages that are required to be spent each year on each item, and give themselves some flexibility. I don't see any other way to fix it. Some hard decisions are going to have to be made, and they need to be made by the people who were elected and who get paid to make them. If they don't want to make the decisions, then they should go back into private life and get the heck out of Sacramento.

[roody]

2. Schools are in for big cuts. What are the chances

that they will cut the gravy train to the testing publishers?