Posted on 02/08/2009 10:05:32 AM PST by NormsRevenge
California is broke.
But lost in the day-to-day drama over IOUs, furloughs and huge deficits is a basic question many Californians might be asking: Where has all our money gone?
A Mercury News analysis of state spending since Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office in late 2003 found that he and the Democratic-controlled Legislature have spent money well beyond the rate of inflation and California's population growth — $10.2 billion more.
Yet the programs that received most of that money are priorities that Californians broadly support or have demanded at the ballot box: tougher prison sentences for criminals, health care for uninsured children and an aging population, and a cut in the "car tax" that they pay every year to register their vehicles.
The problem, according to a report last week from the state auditor, is that Republican and Democratic politicians in Sacramento have shirked their responsibility for the past decade, papering over shortfalls that started after the dot-com bubble popped in 2001.
Like homeowners paying off one credit card with another, they used accounting gimmicks and more debt, rather than raising taxes or cutting spending, to balance the books. As the economy worsened and tax receipts plummeted — from $102.5 billion last year to an estimated $87.5 billion this year — the house of cards collapsed.
Recession's effect
"We got what we wanted and we've never figured out how to pay for it. And then we had this recession, and that made everything worse," said Stephen Levy, director of the Palo Alto-based Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy.
"Everybody's got somebody to blame, but in the end these are services people wanted," Levy added. "Look at the screaming when you close a swimming pool, let alone try to cut education."
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Are we talking apples and oranges? My little district in VA spends more than $25k/student/year, and of those, SpED are by far the most expensive. $25k is the AVG/student/year.
So how do you get $8k/student/year for SpED students in CA?
I flat out don’t believe it.
And, I don’t see it on your link.
If your district is spending $25,000 per student per year, that is just plain outrageous. A 30 student K-6 classroom is costing $750,000? I'm in the wrong business.
Got it - two issues. You meant “Average Daily Attendence,”, I read “Americans with Disabilities Act.” Obvious difference in costs.
Second issue - they are lying. Add in bonds for buildings, interest costs, CALPERS, etc. No way they come in at $8k.
It is a flat-out lie.
I'm sure that was all carefully excluded. California doesn't live within a budget. Now their excesses have caught up.
Ayep. Frankly, I would bet the CALPERS cost per kid/year approaches $8k.
A lot of the money is going to the SEIU contracts, that is the State Employees International Union, an branch of the SEIU, Service Employee Union.
Utah might actually be telling the truth. CA certainly is not.
Hey, I like that. Mind if I use it for a tag line? Oh wait, I already have!
Mexico.
A Mercury News analysis of state spending since Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office in late 2003 found that he and the Democratic-controlled Legislature have spent money well beyond the rate of inflation and California's population growth -- $10.2 billion more. Yet the programs that received most of that money are priorities that Californians broadly support or have demanded at the ballot box: tougher prison sentences for criminals, health care for uninsured children and an aging population, and a cut in the "car tax" that they pay every year to register their vehicles. ...Republican and Democratic politicians in Sacramento have shirked their responsibility for the past decade, papering over shortfalls that started after the dot-com bubble popped in 2001.Not "Democratic and Republican" politicians mind you, despite the fact that "Except for the period from 1995 to 1996, the Assembly has been in Democratic hands since the 1970 election (even while the governor's office has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats). The Senate has been in Democratic hands continuously since 1970." *.
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