Articles in "Transportation"

State Controller John Chiang released his monthly analysis on the State's finances, reporting California's revenues for the month of September fell $301.6 million below what was projected in the 2011-2012 State Budget, making more likely the prospect that State budget "trigger cuts" will be pulled in December.  If the trigger cuts are pulled, the result will be automatic spending cuts impacting a wide range of programs including developmental services, education and In-Home Supportive Services.  With economic troubles growing across the nation and around the world, the grim news by the State Controller was not unexpected.

State Controller John Chiang released his monthly report covering California's cash balance, receipts and disbursements in July, showing State revenues were down $538.8 million (-10.3%) below projections from the 2011-2012 State Budget that was signed into law by Governor Brown June 30th - a trend, if it continues - that could trigger additional sweeping State budget reductions impacting hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and others across California.

In addition to signing early this afternoon SB 87, the main State budget bill for 2011-2012 passed by legislative Democrats on a strict party-line majority vote, Governor Brown also signed into law 10 budget "trailer" bills, including three dealing with the so-called "trigger cuts" that are linked to about $2.5 billion in additional spending cuts to go into effect sometime after January 2012 if a certain level of revenues do not come into the State treasury as hoped for in the budget. 

Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 87, the main budget for the State's 2011-2012 budget year that begins on Friday, July 1.  The Governor kept in the budget the funding restored by the Legislature for Adult Day Health Care but deleted a provision in the budget that requires a specified spending level for the program during the 2011-2012 State Budget year because "it does not consider other services available to these individuals [using Adult Day Health Care] that preserve their ability to remain in the community."

Governor Jerry Brown signed 8 budget trailer bills the Legislature passed by a majority vote on June 15th including controversial measures that calls for the elimination of redevelopment agencies, creation or enforcement of what is referred to as the "Amazon.com" use tax.  He also signed budget trailer bills from June 15th covering human services including In-Home Supportive Services and CalWORKS budget reductions and changes, and legislation to renew the nursing facility "AB 1629 Quality Assurance Fee" program.

The State Senate and Assembly finished work on the final budget related bill, dealing with education finance and the "trigger cut" impacting K-12 education after both houses passed - on a majority vote by Democrats - the main budget bill for the 2011-2012 State budget year beginning July 1st.

The State Senate convened, but went into recess to allow time for Senate Republicans to caucus.  Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg told members to stay inside the State Capitol building in anticipation that the State Senate would resume the floor session between 6 and 6:30 PM to begin work on debating and then passing the 2011-2012 State Budget by a majority vote.

Giving up on winning support from Legislative Republicans, Governor Brown reached an agreement with the Legislature's two Democratic leaders, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez with a budget plan that will not contain his proposals to extend for five years the 2009 temporary tax increases scheduled to expire June 30, 2011 but instead counts on $4 billion more in revenues that he hopes California will bring in next year.

The last of the budget subcommittee hearings were held on May 27th, the State budget crisis now moves to its final crucial stage; with likely floor votes in both the Assembly and State Senate sometime on or before June 15th, the State Constitutional deadline that requires the Legislature to pass a budget and present it to the Governor.

The Assembly and State Senate budget subcommittees will hold public hearings on Governor Brown’s new proposed budget revisions beginning next week including those impacting education, health and human services.  Those hearings next week and possibly the week after will likely be the only time public comment will be taken on the Governor’s new proposals before action is taken by the full Legislature, which faces a June 15th deadline to send the main budget bill to the Governor.

As previously reported, the Department of Developmental Services will hold 3 public forums to hear public comments on its draft proposal on how it wants to achieve $174 million in reductions in State general fund spending through a mixture savings that would result from new federal funds, caseload budget adjustments and actual spending cuts.