California's budget deficit has ballooned to $16 billion

California's budget deficit has ballooned to $16 billion, Gov. Jerry Brown says
http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_2...

California's projected budget deficit has ballooned to $16 billion, much larger than predicted just four months ago, Gov. Jerry Brown said Saturday as he warned of draconian cuts to schools and public safety if voters don't approve his November tax-hike measure.

The governor said the shortfall grew from $9.2 billion in January in part because tax collections are sluggish and the economy hasn't recovered as quickly as expected. The deficit also has soared because lawsuits and federal requirements have blocked billions of dollars in state cuts to social programs, Brown said.

"This means we will have to go much farther and make cuts far greater than I asked for at the beginning of the year," Brown said in an online video. "But we can't fill this hole with cuts alone without doing severe damage to our schools. That's why I'm bypassing the gridlock and asking you, the people of California, to approve a plan that avoids cuts to schools and public safety."

Brown on Saturday did not release details of the newly calculated deficit through mid-2013, but he is set to lay out a revised spending plan Monday. The new blueprint for the fiscal year that starts July 1 hinges in large part on voters approving higher taxes in the fall. Under Brown's tax measure, California would temporarily raise the state's sales tax by a quarter-cent and increase the income tax on people who make $250,000 or more.

No doubt about it, California voters definitely deserve the politicians they voted for. Despite his dismal record in the past for obscene tax increases and lackluster performance in office, Jerry Brown still won for the third time as governor of this high tech state. That was not the last time he made a fool of the people, when his cohorts were penalized by law for not passing the budget on time, he faked a $4 billion future windfall in order to balance it and pass the law. Amazingly, the citizens swallowed the scam hook, line and sinker.

It must be the side effect of pot smoking that's frying the brains of voters in this state.

New level of mismanagement.

No surprises here, given the huge real estate debacle, the ridiculous government compensation packages and the intensely over regulated population and attending bureaucracies needed to regulate every aspect of my life.

No surprises whatsoever and one step closer to positive change when the obvious can lo longer be ignored.

"democrats", when will you learn not to vote for them ? all any of them want is more of "YOUR " money

You gotta remember, the ones who voted for moonbeam dont pay taxes so increases arent a concern. Kinda like Barry's voters.

according to the fairus.org website, the costs of illegal aliens in california for the year of 2009 was around 20 BILLION.
http://www.fairus.org/states/california #

and it's probably the same or more this year.

it seems to me that by deporting all the illegal aliens would then resolve the budget deficit problem of 16 BILLION that california is having now. right?

seems like a no brainer. what is the california governor waiting for?

So after one year, our college boy politician is back with a big "F" on his report card. But wait, how the hell did this three term governor get away with so much deficit without any kind of accountability? what happened to the watchdog in the house, fast asleep after the pot smoke?

Sadly, we don't even see the opposition voicing their concern that spending is totally out of control in Sacramento. Where did the money go, salaries, prisons, parks and perks, where? The taxpayers have a right to know!