CA: Time for a state estate sale

OC Register ^ | 3/3/04 | Bill Leonard

[NormsRevenge]

When families face a financial crisis like a layoff or pay cut, they take steps to live within their means by eliminating items like expanded cable television service, cell phones, restaurant dining and expensive trips to the mall. Families in tough times also question whether they really need that extra car, boat or RV. This is "kitchen-table economics," and state government needs to apply it.

[NormsRevenge]

Bill Leonard is a former state senator from Rancho Cucamonga and a member of the State Board of Equalization.

[NormsRevenge]

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[kilowhskey]

Bill Leonard's proposal is too rational to ever be implemented. Unless, that is, until California faces a bond default.

[lilylangtree]

Just saw a sign recently: "Liberals are Californicating America"

[Modernman]

I fear that the only thing that will force the liberals in Sacramento to change their ways is a total fiscal collapse of the California government.

[KantianBurke]

Rancho Cucamonga

lol! So this place DOES exist :>

[Digger]

Correct. These guys in both parties will spend until you the voter gets rid of them & their ilk. Just as yesterday people I ran into I ask if they were voting & most said no. So we get another 23 BILLION put on us to fund the communist school system. You see all of the humongous monies they now receive couldn't go to fixing the properties. But it can go (1 million) for ads in favor of grocery strikers. So you say it was union dues that did that but it was money that could have been back in the pockets of the workers.

[sphinx]

The problem with asset sales is that they just delay the reckoning on spending vs. taxes. I'm not against them, mind you, but let's not confuse them with a solution.

[PeterPrinciple]

I'll say it again.........cashflow affects management more than management affects cashflow.

Until cashlow gets tight, tough decisions won't be made. Any IDIOT can manage when cash flow is easy. That's why is was so important for the tax cuts to come FIRST.

If I win the lottery tomorrow what happens to my management? If I lose my job tomorrow, what happens to my management (decision making for those that don't know the definition of management)

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

It gets better. Check out http://www.calfraud.com

[calcowgirl]

The problem with asset sales is that they just delay the reckoning on spending vs. taxes.
I'm not against them, mind you, but let's not confuse them with a solution.

Bingo! They were just given another $15 Billion of Play Money.
I'm against anything that puts more money in their piggy bank until they SOLVE the problem.

[hedgetrimmer]

The governor should have done this before _ever_ floating a new bond proposal.

In additon to the types of properities listed, there are "wetlands" and parks and other properties the state is allowing to go to ruin because the state shouldn't own them in the first place,and because they don't have funds for upkeep.

[hedgetrimmer]

I am all for accountability.

There should be a law, and we should make it, that the govnernment has to itemize our tax bill with information that lets you know exactly when a bond is going to be paid off. So for this bond, what, $100 per year the first time its printed, with 29 years to go?

And on the kindergarten bond, and the college bonds, every time you pay your tax bill you'll get to see how much longer your servitude will last.

[mewzilla]

Are the details of the CA state budget online for folks to look at?

[calcowgirl]

Are the details of the CA state budget online for folks to look at?

Governor's Budget 2004-05

Analysis of Governor's Budget from Legislative Analysts Office

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the link. :-)

FRom the ed.pdf file ..

6110 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

California’s public education system is administered at the state level by the Department of Education, under the direction of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the education of approximately 6.2 million students from infants to adulthood. In 2003–04, $56.2 billion will be spent from state, federal, and local property tax revenues for the State’s public school pupils. In 2004–05, those expenditures are expected to total $58.1 billion from such sources. These expenditures include teacher retirement costs, capital outlay, local miscellaneous and debt service funds, and bond interest and redemption shown in other parts of the Governor’s Budget, for an overall increase of $836.7 million between 2003–04 and 2004–05. The state administration aspects of the program are managed through seven branches of the department: the Executive Branch; the Governmental Affairs Branch; the Finance, Technology, and Administrative Branch; the Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch; the Legal and Audits Branch; the School and District Operations Branch; and the Assessment and Accountability Branch.

[calcowgirl]

Warning: Reading budget data may cause a rise in blood pressure. ;-)
(Trust Me! I'm speaking from experience!) LOL