First, compliments to Mr. Macedo for doing an outstanding job of responding to my questions. Unlike other state agencies that have refused to respond to this journalist’s questions, Macedo has provided very honest and complete answers.

Second, it should be clarified that what I am pointing out in the above article are examples where state agencies or legislators cut back their budgets by deregulation (K-12 schools), by changing funding formulas (community colleges), and by curtailing bond issues that may or may not be needed (HCD) to reduce their budgets, with minimal or no layoffs of core staff. Layoffs of public employees just adds to the unemployment burden. So the above article is critical of Governor Brown but can also be read as complimentary to state agencies where merited.

Here are Jeff Macedo’s comments by email which he has approved for posting:

————————————————————-

I just read the story you just posted and am surprised at the view of our budget versus our staffing levels. By saying that we cut $490 million without laying anyone off makes a spurious connection. HCD has definitely lost staff, which was addressed in my first set of responses. In addition, the great bulk of the budget reduction was due to award programs that have been affected by the pause. Again, HCD manages our staffing levels judiciously. The upcoming budget proposal reflects those positions that have been eliminated and funding in those categories has been reduced.

I’d hope that you update your blog post to include the information I had originally provided you. To say that the HCD budget reduction reflects an inflated budget is wildly inaccurate and unfair. — Jeff