Jerry Brown warns educators to brace for more cuts

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Gov.-elect Jerry Brown said Tuesday that public schools in California should brace for more budget cuts when he presents his spending proposal in the next few weeks to solve the state's $25.4 billion budget deficit.

The Democrat called education and public safety the pillars of a civilized society but warned that the magnitude of the deficit problem facing California is "unprecedented in my lifetime" and that the state must prepare for drastic changes.

"I can't promise there won't be more cuts, because there will be," he told a gathering of school administrators, teachers union representatives and other public education officials from across the state during a special budget forum in Los Angeles.

Brown implored those at the forum, which focused on education spending, to "please sit down" when they see his budget proposal on Jan. 10. "If you're in your car, fasten your seat belt. It's going to be a rough ride, but we'll get through it," he said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/14/BAK91GQJRV.DTL&tsp=1

[midnight]

1. K&R

[Ruperto31]

30. California has a very low top bracket--$48K.

Everyone above that pays about 10%. That could be changed. Hawaii's top bracket, for example, is $200k. Why not introduce higher brackets for higher earners?

No, wait. I forgot. This is America. You can't do that.

[EFerrari]

2. I'm an unemployed teacher and grateful that Jerry Brown

is in the state house. He'll do what has to be done but he won't screw the schools over with the excuse that we have a deficit.

[No Elephants]

11. I hope you're right. I hope he has not changed over time.

I'm sorry you're unemployed--and not only on your behalf, but on behalf of those whom you'd be teaching if you were employed

A real loss to them, IMO.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. He and the circumstances have dramatically changed

It is bitter pill time in California.

[Creative]

25. Indeed, their bill came due first.

Soon enough, it will come due for many other states.

[Ruperto31]

29. He always was a pinch-penny.

That was his pitch when he served as Gov the first time: liberal on social issues, tightwad on fiscal issues.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. This is not a decision with which I agree...

Raise Taxes.
I'm willing to pay more.

[andym]

4. You'll get your chance for more taxes

Brown has promised to put tax hikes necessary to restore cuts before the voters as initiatives.

However, before that he will propose drastic cuts, as this article implies.

[Ozymanithrax]

16. No, I won't pay more...

A majority of Californians who vote on tax initiatives are something for nothing assholes that don't care.

We elected a government to fix the problems, not whine that the public doesn't want them to do something.

I think I will by big bohunkin set of Truck Nuts and send them to Brown.

[xxqqqzme]

22. (huge audible GROAN)

No, no no, not more initiatives. Steroid boy already tried that. - Hello, just 6 weeks ago the voters stupidly rejected Prop 24.

[PuffedMica]

9. Jerry Brown should legalize marijuana then raise taxes on pot

There are big bucks just waiting to be made with legal marijuana sales.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. He came out against Prop. 19.

He is literally a child of the Democratic PARTY.

[Ozymanithrax]

17. This is not a quick solution. It would take a couple of years to implement...

the capitalist system to make money off luxury taxes on pot, while sending local entrepreneurs to jail so R.J. Reynolds and other such luminaries could gain control of the pipeline.

[Xithras]

18. Requires a 2/3 vote from either the people or the legislature.

There's no way a proposal like that will survive the ballot box. I know that Brown will be proposing new taxes in an upcoming election, but the chances of them passing are extremely small.

[Ozymanithrax]

19. Then it may be time for Brown to call a California Constitutional Convention...

I'm tired of a Republican minority running the government.

[Xithras]

20. Which still may not fix things.

California voters have consistently voted against anything that promises "tax increases". Even if you call a constitutional convention, the new Constitution must still be placed before the voters for final approval. A constitutional convention that didn't include the verbiage of Prop 13 or which contained no limits on taxation would come under massive attack by the right (and sadly, many on the left) as a "backdoor way to increase your taxes". Given the incredible consistency that Californian's have shown in shooting down tax increases, I have a hard time imagining that a convention could offer Californian's enough benefit to get them to override that knee-jerk "no taxes" impulse.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I long ago joined the pessimists on this issue. Californian's want government services, but many of our residents suffer from a serious mental disconnect when it comes to paying for them. Hell, we ousted a governor because he increased our CAR TAXES.

[Ozymanithrax]

21. I agree with you the majority of Californians are Cheap assed ...

something for nothingists when it comes to taxes.

I don't have to like it.

[xxqqqzme]

23. Actually Davis was blamed for legislation

pushed by wilson. The auto registration increase was built into the bill. When state revenues fell below a certain percentage the increase kicked in.

[Creative]

26. Actually, you can pay more. The state will accept your check.

However, Mr. Brown has promised not to raise taxes.

[andym]

5. He's going to make drastic cuts and then ask the voters to approve new taxes

to restore some of the services.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. That is one of several strategies being discussed

Dems in the legislature rejoiced when he won, but without a repuke in the state house to blame, the legislature and the governor are going to be fully accountable for the cuts and the people may well decline to raise taxes.

The poison pill approach may not be enough to get voters to agree and I expect to see him push for the end of state defined benefit pensions as well.

[soleiri]

6. Why not cut out the unnecessary testing

that's done in schools?
Not paying testing companies should save a bit of money.

While we're at it, why not tell charters that their Billionaire Benefactors have to fund them completely, instead of public money.

Money should be going to hire more teachers, so students can have smaller classes.

[Citizen Worker]

7. Will Brown propose repealing Proposition 13, the property tax giveaway to corporations passed in '78

[andym]

8. Third rail of California politics to oppose Prop 13

It's still very popular. It's very hard to raise taxes here due to 2/3 rule. Even in the last election, Proposition 26 passed which makes state fee increases subject to the 2/3 legislative majority vote. Almost all property owners love Prop 13 too.

But California would greatly benefit from its modification or repeal.

[No Elephants]

10. He doesn't have to oppose it. It could be a ballot question, or he could support it, but say

temporary suspension is necessary, given the ditch into which Republions drove the federal and state economy.

Letting the people decide in light of an emergency situation is not going to get him recalled in his first six months.

[xxqqqzme]

24. Commercial property needs to be excluded from 13.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Prop 13 is not the real issue in CA

Look up the Gann Initiative voted in by 75% of the voters a year later.

[Xolodno]

27. Some info in PDF format...

http://www.jerrybrown.org/sites/default/files/GovElectBudgetBrief_1.pdf

[notesdev]

28. Bait & Switch - Mission Accomplished!

Enjoy your austerity, California.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer:
"So far, I've heard good ideas about how to spend more money. Great. It ain't there. It's time to make cuts, I believe deep cuts. I'd do the 25% across the board and just say those who wanted less government, you're going to get your wish."

[Creative]

32. 25% seems a bit drastic. I thought the deficit was only $28 billion.

That would equate to about a 6% cut across the board.

Seems doable...

[KamaAina]

31. "If you're in your car, fasten your seat belt."

And if you're on transit, like me?