State Budget
California
On brink of recession, Newsom and lawmakers must budget cautiously
Gov. Newsom on Tuesday proposed a roughly $297 billion state budget plan for the 2023-24 fiscal year. In contrast to last year’s nearly $100 billion surplus, the administration projects $29.5 billion in lower than estimated revenues and a $22.5 billion shortfall. The Newsom spending plan does some good things – including paying ...
Wayne Winegarden
January 10, 2023
Commentary
Privatization saves money and improves city services
What is the purpose of city government? If you’re an ordinary person, you might figure something like the establishing of certain types of rules (mainly around business and building) and the providing of certain types of services (from parks to policing). City residents, business owners, developers and visitors pay taxes ...
Sal Rodriguez
December 20, 2022
Blog
State Budget Update: ‘Nothing to See Here’
Back in 2003, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf became a notorious figure in global media for his press statements at the start of the War in Iraq. Declaring that “Baghdad is safe” and “(American) infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds in the gates of Baghdad” as US tanks raced through the ...
Tim Anaya
December 13, 2022
Blog
State Budget Update: California Faces $25 Billion Budget Shortfall
When I last wrote about California’s state budget picture, Gov. Newsom was warning in his September veto messages about the state facing lower-than-expected tax revenues in the first months of the new fiscal year, and urging lawmakers to “remain discipline when it comes to spending.” With ongoing inflation and economic ...
Tim Anaya
November 18, 2022
Blog
Spiraling pension costs still crowding out city services
Spiraling pension costs still crowding out city services by Edward Ring About 20 years ago, I read an ad in a local Sacramento newspaper that said, “Get a government job and become an instant millionaire.” The ad described how public officials in California enjoyed benefits private sector employees can rarely ...
Edward Ring
November 17, 2022
Blog
A To-Do List for the California Legislature
When Californians go to the polls in November, they will be choosing from many new faces seeking to represent them in the state legislature. Thanks to redistricting and a wide swath of retirements, there will be at least 22 new State Assembly Members elected this fall and 10 new State ...
Tim Anaya
October 21, 2022
Blog
State Budget Update: Newsom’s Vetoes Foreshadow Tough Budget Year Ahead
Gov. Newsom recently completed the bill signing period, issuing his final signatures and vetoes on the final measures from the 2022 legislative session that remained on his desk. On the campaign trail in recent weeks, Newsom has been touting the California blue state agenda as the way forward for ...
Tim Anaya
October 11, 2022
On brink of recession, Newsom and lawmakers must budget cautiously
Gov. Newsom on Tuesday proposed a roughly $297 billion state budget plan for the 2023-24 fiscal year. In contrast to last year’s nearly $100 billion surplus, the administration projects $29.5 billion in lower than estimated revenues and a $22.5 billion shortfall. The Newsom spending plan does some good things – including paying ...
Privatization saves money and improves city services
What is the purpose of city government? If you’re an ordinary person, you might figure something like the establishing of certain types of rules (mainly around business and building) and the providing of certain types of services (from parks to policing). City residents, business owners, developers and visitors pay taxes ...
State Budget Update: ‘Nothing to See Here’
Back in 2003, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf became a notorious figure in global media for his press statements at the start of the War in Iraq. Declaring that “Baghdad is safe” and “(American) infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds in the gates of Baghdad” as US tanks raced through the ...
State Budget Update: California Faces $25 Billion Budget Shortfall
When I last wrote about California’s state budget picture, Gov. Newsom was warning in his September veto messages about the state facing lower-than-expected tax revenues in the first months of the new fiscal year, and urging lawmakers to “remain discipline when it comes to spending.” With ongoing inflation and economic ...
Spiraling pension costs still crowding out city services
Spiraling pension costs still crowding out city services by Edward Ring About 20 years ago, I read an ad in a local Sacramento newspaper that said, “Get a government job and become an instant millionaire.” The ad described how public officials in California enjoyed benefits private sector employees can rarely ...
A To-Do List for the California Legislature
When Californians go to the polls in November, they will be choosing from many new faces seeking to represent them in the state legislature. Thanks to redistricting and a wide swath of retirements, there will be at least 22 new State Assembly Members elected this fall and 10 new State ...
State Budget Update: Newsom’s Vetoes Foreshadow Tough Budget Year Ahead
Gov. Newsom recently completed the bill signing period, issuing his final signatures and vetoes on the final measures from the 2022 legislative session that remained on his desk. On the campaign trail in recent weeks, Newsom has been touting the California blue state agenda as the way forward for ...