Free Republic

SACRAMENTO – A team of bureaucrats picked by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is quietly preparing a comprehensive reorganization of state government larger than any attempted in California history.The plan, expected to be complete by April 30, would close down whole departments and consolidate others. Up to 200 state boards and commissions and 1,500 political appointees would be eliminated. Administration officials declined to specify reorganization proposals. But interviews with those who have been briefed or interviewed by planners suggest several likely recommendations: • Consolidate most energy regulation under a newly created energy secretary picked by the governor. Regulation now resides in various...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and local governments are close to agreement on a deal that would provide cities and counties a bigger share of the property tax in exchange for an agreement on one-time cuts. Officials close to the negotiations say Schwarzenegger has shown new interest in satisfying local governments following qualification last week of a November initiative that protect cities and counties from future raids on their revenue sources by the state. According to a memo from the California State Association of Counties, local officials have proposed a one-time $816 million cut to be equally shared between...