|
1. A - 5
<br />THE BUDGET STORY -
<br />Articles
<br />The Sacramento Bee, 416103, Slashing
<br />support for needy— Sacramento County's
<br />planned cuts in social programs likely will
<br />increase welfare rolls. "Projects on the chopping
<br />block — including job assistance, skills training,
<br />after - school programs, senior centers, homeless
<br />shelters and home visitation — form a vital safety
<br />net for many vulnerable groups. Providers say the
<br />loss of support services will increase burdens on an
<br />already strained welfare system."
<br />Stockton Record, 4/7/03, Job programs
<br />face funding cuts — Welfare -to -work contracts
<br />with 3 S.J. nonprofits targeted. "The San
<br />Joaquin County Human Services Agency plans to
<br />cut in half money that nonprofits get to run welfare -
<br />to -work programs, saving county jobs at the ex-
<br />pense of private ones and increasing everyone's
<br />caseloads."
<br />"The result, sources agree, will be that employ-
<br />ees have less time to spend with welfare recipients
<br />searching for jobs."
<br />The Sacramento Bee 4/6/03, Attack on
<br />deficit limps along. "Despite Gov. Gray Davis'
<br />pledges to tackle the record budget shortfall quickly
<br />and aggressively, a succession of setbacks has
<br />slowed efforts to shrink the deficit and further
<br />tarnished California's fiscal image with the lenders
<br />who are key to keeping the state afloat. State
<br />revenues are slipping below predictions, a political
<br />impasse over tax increases is showing no signs of
<br />cracking and several key pieces of the budget have
<br />fizzled."
<br />The San Jose Mercury News 4/7/03, State
<br />may need to borrow $11 billion — IOUs could
<br />be used to make payments on some bills
<br />"Without a budget on July 1, the state would have
<br />adequate cash to meet its needs for only 30 to 60
<br />days, Westly said. After that, the state might be
<br />forced to issue registered warrants — essentially
<br />IOUs — to pay some bills. However, teachers, state
<br />workers, creditors and federally mandated pro-
<br />grams — such as health care for the poor — would
<br />receive top priority for payment."
<br />SOME PRESS QUOTES
<br />Associated Press I Oakland Tribune 413/03,
<br />Opponents of car tax hike threaten to seek
<br />lawsuit — Supporter: $4 billion that would be
<br />raised is needed to balance budget. "As
<br />California confronts its massive budget deficit, the
<br />way is being prepared to trigger the tripling of the
<br />car tax to add $4 billion in new tax revenues. When
<br />that happens, Republican leaders and anti -tax
<br />activists say they will sue to block the increase,
<br />which could then, in turn, freeze the budget debate
<br />in the Capitol and mire the budget in the courts.
<br />"As California faces up to a $35 billion deficit
<br />over the next 15 months, many legislators said the
<br />state needs the extra car tax money.
<br />Editorials, Columns, Opeds, Letters to the
<br />Editor
<br />San Jose Mercury News, Budget Dillydally -
<br />ing— Legislature is Leaving Schools, Cities,
<br />and Counties Hanging. "Most local budgets have
<br />to be passed by July 1, the same deadline the state
<br />has, and often misses. In a normal year, late state
<br />budgets are merely an irritation. Schools, cities and
<br />counties know roughly what to expect, and slight
<br />adjustments can be made later. This year is not a
<br />normal year. It is, one hopes, the worst of years.
<br />That means that schools, cities and counties are
<br />budgeting on a wish and a prayer. They know they
<br />will have to make cuts, but the depth makes a big
<br />difference."
<br />"The Legislature is failing to address next
<br />year's budget with any urgency... In the meantime,
<br />the state's bill for borrowing will grow and local
<br />governments will grope toward their own budgets.
<br />No financial good fairy is going to appear in May to
<br />rescue the Legislature. Waiting isn't wise, it's
<br />wasteful."
<br />The Sacramento Bee 4/7/03, Dan Walters:
<br />California's budget crisis may be beyond
<br />politicians' control. "As the politicians posture
<br />and pontificate... the ultimate resolution of the
<br />crisis, whatever it may be, may be largely depen-
<br />dent on factors beyond their control.
<br />"One is the economy, of course. Were Califor-
<br />nia to experience another sharp economic surge,
<br />as it did in the late 1990s. it's entirely possible that
<br />Continued on Page B
<br />Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 5
<br />
|