Schwarzenegger Administration: Federal Money Enough to Offset Public School Budget Cuts

Sacramento — In good news for public schools, federal recovery money for education should be enough to offset $2.4 billion in budget cuts, state Department of Finance officials said March 24.

The budget signed last month reduces state support for public schools by $2.4 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1.    Read more »

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Fixing California’s Eligibility for $8.3 Billion In Federal Funds

The state Senate unanimously approved legislation March 23 that would make California eligible for $8.3 billion in federal stimulus money for Medi-Cal, the state’s health care program for the poor.

Although California is slated to receive more than $31 billion in federal money, a change in eligibility rules for Medi-Cal made as part of this year’s budget prevents California from qualifying for more than 25 percent of those  federal funds.    Read more »

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California’s Unemployment Rate Now at 10.5%

An indicator that the state budget will likely be even more out of balance than the $8 billion predicted by the Legislative Analyst, California’s unemployment rate rose from 10.1 percent in January to 10.5 percent in February. 

Nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 116,000 during the month. Read the Employment Development Department press release.    Read more »

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Bon Anniversaire Soixante-Quinzieme, Monsieur Willie Brown!

Demain, mon anniversaire, est le premier jour de printemps – comme toujours, vieil homme.

E, naturalmente, Buon Compleanno a mia sorella bella, Leslie!

XOXOX    Read more »

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Cue the Plague of Locusts

As though the state’s fiscal problems aren’t daunting enough, California’s top water officials gave Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a grim Power Point March 16 showing that rain earlier in the month has done little to lessen the state’s worst drought in modern history. 

The officials, including Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow, showed the GOP governor that at the time of year when water levels should be highest, Lake Oroville was at 66 percent of normal, San Luis Reservoir at 51 percent and Lake Shasta at 71 percent.    Read more »

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Will $1.8 Billion in Taxes and Nearly $1 Billion in Cuts Trigger Off?

Advocates for the poor, disabled and home care workers urged state officials to eliminate $950 million in spending cuts in next year’s budget by concluding that there is at least $10 billion in federal economic stimulus funds that can be used to staunch the red ink in the state’s general fund.    Read more »

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Governor Launches California Green Corps

“We will utilize federal economic stimulus funds and public-private partnerships to help stimulate our economy while initiating actions to improve our environment,” Governor Arnold Schwarzengger said of the new program in a press release.

“Green jobs are exactly what our economy and environment need right now – and the California Green Corps targets that need while helping at-risk young adults realize a brighter future.”     Read more »

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Life Is Full of Rich Irony

March 16, 2009 — Capitol Morning Report states that former Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton, a San Francisco Democrat, has received the endorsement of the Computer and Internet Caucus in his quest to become the next chair of the California Democratic Party. 

As reported here previously, Burton has traditionally shunned the Internet and does not own a computer.    Read more »

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New Budget Already $8 Billion Out of Whack — Legislative Analyst Says

Less than one month after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a budget aimed at closing a massive $42 billion gap between revenues and spending commitments, the state’s still deteriorating economy will add another $8 billion to the state’s revenue hole between now and June 30, 2010,  according to the Legislative Analyst. 

The Legislative Analyst’s assessment of the state’s fiscal outlook also says that because several of the key provisions of the recently enacted budget are short term, budget gaps will continue, growing to $12.6 billion in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and climbing to $26 billion in the fiscal year starting July 1, 2013.    Read more »

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February Cash Collections — $1 Billion Below Estimates

As reported here previously,  State Controller John Chiang’s February cash report shows revenues $1 billion below projections.    Read more »

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