Saturday, May. 10, 2008

Our view: Budget picture isn't pretty

The governor's proposal cuts more for education than legislative Republicans; Democrats don't have a plan.

If you want to see the face of California's budget dilemma, look at the public schools. If you do, it will be clear that reducing spending alone will not solve the state's fiscal problem -- unless the governor and legislators want local school districts to make truly draconian cuts.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed K-12 education budget for 2008-2009 makes the largest cuts ever for public schools in California -- $4.3 billion. That works out to about $750 less per student, or about $400,000 less per school. Others have presented alternatives. But all of the proposals either rely on huge cuts, a shift of cuts to other programs or revenue increases with no cuts.

Legislative Republicans propose to cut education less than the governor, but they make it up by cutting more from public assistance programs -- cutting the social safety net just as the state is in an economic downturn.

The Democrats don't yet have a proposal, other than Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata's admonition that they won't balance the budget on the backs of children.

Revised state budget numbers are due Wednesday and are likely to show a worsened financial situation. As in the 1992 fiscal crisis, it's clear that black or white positions, such as all cuts or all tax increases, won't work. This budget situation is bad enough that a balance of all options will be required. Seven weeks remain to produce a budget. It's time to move beyond rhetorical positions and get down to real negotiations.