CA: Dire visions of spending cuts offered

Sac Bee ^ | 12/6/02 | Margaret Talev

[NormsRevenge]

While Gov. Gray Davis fine-tuned a plan he'll present today to shave $10 billion from California's growing deficit, advocates for schools, police, counties and cities spent Thursday unveiling "doom-and-gloom" scenarios they hope will spare them the knife.

Fearing $1.9 billion in cuts through June, educators called a news conference and talked of having to close schools early and lay off teachers. By the summer of 2004, some predicted, the governor would try to cut more than $4 billion from schools.

[NormsRevenge]

"I just see nothing but doom and gloom if we make major cuts," said Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Association.

[NormsRevenge]

Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said a midyear cut of $1.9 billion was equivalent to clipping two weeks off the end of the school year, laying off 35,000 teachers (about 1 in 10 statewide), or reducing per-pupil spending by $300.

What happened to the old "can do" attitude.. Do More with Less? Frickin' socialism addicts

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

[janetgreen]

Despite the massive budget shortfall, not a word about the billions we spend on illegal aliens in this state, not a word. It wouldn't be politically correct to even mention that, would it, Governor Dim Bulb?

[45Auto]

Despite all this heroic talk from the commie governor and the commie legislature, in the end NOTHING will be cut, but the shortfall will be made up on the backs of the already over-burdened citizens - at least those citizens who work. Then the rotten criminal/socialists can say, "Well, we sure solved that problem."

[Argus]

Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said a midyear cut of $1.9 billion was equivalent to clipping two weeks off the end of the school year, laying off 35,000 teachers (about 1 in 10 statewide), or reducing per-pupil spending by $300.

At these prices, we could save the whole $30 billion by simply eliminating public schools altogether, and probably get a surplus. Of course the downside is, who will teach our young people tolerance, self-esteem, and how to put on a condom?

[geedee]

No offense, but I thank God every day I don't live in California.

[willyone]

This is so irrelevant. In ten years Calif. will be part of Mexico and their problem. I will be out of here.

[willyone]

California. Paradise lost. So sad. This was such a great place for awhile. Gone forever.

[upcountryhorseman]

Right On! You can conduct class in a tent; Socrates
taught outdoors.

[thinktwice]

Free at last, free at last; home schooling freedom, here at last.

[BigBobber]

Cutting the the state budget by $10 billion? How could any Freeper object to that?

Smiles and giggles from Eldorado.

[thinktwice]

I thank God every day I don't live in California.

It's going to be interesting; California has already exceeded all rational tax levels.

[cynicom]

Some rebubs still cannot acceot that the pubs won in CA.

[cynicom]

That should be accept.....

[Thud]

They could fire every state employee and still be $6 billion in the hole. Fixing this will require major tax increases. Republican legislators will never vote for higher taxes and, as Republican votes are necessary to pass a budget by the necessary 2/3 majority, and, as state budgets must be balanced by law, and, as the people of California would rather die than change any of that,

The people of California will get their wish. They won't have a state government and they'll die.

Every bloody chicken there is will come home to roost at the same time. The voters, both party's legislators (Republican much more than Democratic due to gerrymandering) and governor are quite irresponsible, and we're getting hit by all sorts of external factors at once - faltering economy, unfunded federal mandates (which Republican congressmen love to foist on the states just as much as Democrats), etc.

Regretably I live here. I'm a trial court research attorney and my wife is just starting as a teacher now that our children are leaving for college - she's working part-time while finishing her credential work. We have one son at UC and another at Sonoma State. Our daughter is a high school senior, so we'll have three in college at the same time next fall. This will be brutal.

[Thud]

BS. Tax levels here are far lower than average for other states. Look at the numbers. California as of last year was, I think, 44th in per capita education spending even by simple raw dollar amounts. Throw in adjustments for California having more income per capita than most states and it gets unreal.

What is really going on is that the whole state/local tax system is screwed up and we have both irresponsible voters and irresponsible politicians.

"It's going to be interesting; California has already exceeded all rational tax levels."

[breakem]

I know what won't be cut, Corrections. Three of the most powerful legislators are sunning and funning with the guards union in Hawaii. (today's LA Times).

[RKV]

Actually Kalifornia is only the 6th highest in revenue per capita.