Could California Have More Money Than Expected?
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The budget committees of both the California Senate and Assembly plan to meet Wednesday to try to work out a compromise, and there's word that California may have more money in the coffers than was projected.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:
The Finance Department said the state pulled in $1.4 billion more in revenue than was projected, easing the chore of covering a $25 billion deficit just a little bit. Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who chairs the Senate budget committee, said what's key is allowing voters to decide on extending existing taxes.
"The governor has said, 'let the people vote,' and so far my Republican colleagues have been adamant that the voters should be silenced," said Leno. "They don't want to give up their votes to get the tax measure to the ballot, but at the same time they have not suggested where they would cut another $12 billion in state services."
Central Valley Assemblyman Bill Berryhill (R-Ceres) is one of the few Republicans refusing to sign a pledge of no new taxes.
"I think the governor's budget is a great start," said Berryhill. "I think fundamentally its philosophy of rolling back power to the cities and counties is a very Republican philosophy, so I applaud him. However, going forward we need to know the details. What does realignment mean to our cities and counties throughout the valley? We don't know those details yet, so it's kind of like playing tic-tac-toe in the dark."
Meanwhile, KCBS and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier expects the GOP to call out state Democrats on frivolous spending for a community college sports program, which may seem to some like very expensive practice time.
KCBS' Phil Matier Reports:
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