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9.M2 QUOTESfrompage5•• "Brulte's idea of rolling over the deficit into a second year is anathema to his more fiscally conservative colleagues. But it has the virtue of being an honest effort to address the problem. By contrast, the governor's strategy is transparently cynical: He is shopping for a legal opinion to give him political cover so he can enact a threefold increase in the vehicle license fee. Higher taxes may indeed be inevitable. But no lawmaker should approve them until the Democratic leadership agrees to serious spending cuts." The Torrance Daily Breeze, 04/22/03, California's fiscal delusion. "In short, the state has been living a fiscal lie. Its balanced budgets during tough economic times have been achieved largely by cooking the books, embracing rosy economic scenarios and engaging in other forms of chicanery that would make Enron's accountants blush. More than one -third of the current deficit flows from one -time fixes used to "balance" one budget at the expense of the next. Some $4.5 billion of the deficit comes from higher spending based on an anticipated increase in federal funds that is not going to materialize." News Stories The Antelope Valley Press, 04/16/03, Su- pervisors criticize governor, Legislature over budget crisis. "Two Los Angeles County supervi- sors had harsh words for elected officials in Sacra- mento on Tuesday, a day after the proposed 2003- 04 county budget was released, with the county expecting an $804 million budget shortfall. 'Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose 5th District includes the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, scolded legislators for not addressing budget concerns earlier and for going into recess this week instead of tackling the problem. 'I'm completely frustrated with the process,' Antonovich said. 'We're left hanging by a thread. It's like we're on fire and the fire department is taking a vacation instead of putting out the fire. The structure is going to be burnt to the ground.'" The San Luis Obispo Tribune, 04116/03, State budget deficit may still be growing — 0 4 0 0 0 4 4 9 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 0.9 0 0 4 Larger spending gap could mean more local cutbacks. "A month before the governor's May budget revision, some state and local officials believe California's deficit is still growing and may lead to additional cuts to schools and local govern- ments. "State Finance Director Steve Peace told the California Taxpayers Association two weeks ago that the increase would be between $1 billion and $5 billion above his boss's estimate. According to the group's newsletter, Peace said not to expect the governor to raise taxes higher than he proposed in January." San Francisco Chronicle, 04/17103, Oakland eyes hard budget choices Libraries, fire stations, rec. centers could close. "Bracing for Oakland's worst budget shortfall in more than a decade, city officials are poring over a list of possible cuts — including closing libraries, fire stations and recreation centers — that leaves few city services unscathed. "'We are going to have to make some tough choices here. Nothing is sacred,' said City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, who said Wednes- day that the budget crisis is the worst he's seen in 10 years. 'This is not crying wolf this time. This is serious.'" Oakland Tribune, 04/17103, Nothing safe as Oakland trims budget City manager includes library, City Hall closures on preliminary list of cuts. "Everything is on the table as the city pre- pares to slash as much as $46.5 million from next year's budget — including sacred cows just barely spared in the previous round of cuts. "A preliminary list from City Manager Robert Bobb of 'all ideas' under consideration includes closing library branches, shutting down city govern- ment for as many as two days a month and closing Feather River Camp in 2004 -05." The Oakland Tribune Sheriff, 4/18/03, DA to get brunt of budget cuts Public protection agencies must absorb 34% of county's deficit, panel decides. "Alameda County's public protec- tion programs — including the sheriffs and district Continued on Page 13 PAGE 12 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org