Budget and Finance
Back to homepageChapman Forecast: More sluggish growth for CA
Nov. 29, 2012 By John Seiler Chapman University’s 35th annual economic forecast projects more sluggish growth for California in 2013. It was presented Wednesday in Costa Mesa before about 1,500 business and community leaders by Chapman President Jim Doti, also
Read MoreL.A. Times’ analysis on crazy school borrowing omits why it’s done
Nov. 29, 2012 By Chris Reed The Los Angeles Times has printed an analysis piece on the insane borrowing by dozens of California school districts using “capital appreciation bonds” (CABs), which delay any repayment for 20 years and often cost
Read MoreWell, lookie here: Jerry Brown serves as voice of reason
Nov. 28, 2012 By Chris Reed I think Gov. Jerry Brown’s good image in the media is driven much more by how competent/effective he seems in contrast to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis than by actual success in making California
Read MoreWill millionaires avoid Prop. 30 tax increase?
Analysis Nov. 28, 2012 By John Seiler During the recent campaign, Gov. Jerry Brown insisted that people would not try to avoid his Proposition 30 tax increase by halting investments and “hiding” their money. Prop 30 boosts the top state
Read MoreNew law needed to simplify CA budget
Nov. 21, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Every year state Senator Joe Simitan, D-Palo Alto, holds a contest for his constituents to submit ideas for new laws. Simitan boasts that 18 submittals have been enacted as new laws since 2001. Well, here’s
Read MoreProp. 30 retroactive tax violates Constitution
Nov. 18, 2012 By John Seiler One little known aspect of Proposition 30 is that it increases income taxes retroactively for 2012. Approved by 54 percent of California on Nov. 6, the initiative grabs $6 billion a year, mainly by
Read MoreBudget rule hides where Prop. 30 and Prop. 39 taxes will be spent
Nov. 16, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi A little known new accounting rule buried in the fiscal 2012-13 California state budget now will make it virtually impossible for the public to track where and when the tax revenues from Propositions 30
Read MoreSupermajority can’t legislate away reality
Nov. 15, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Since the election, several acquaintances of mine have gone out of their way to taunt me about the emergence of the Democratic supermajority in the California Legislature. I have listened respectfully but sadly. Achieving
Read MoreLittle Hoover: More CA city bankruptcies loom
Nov. 14, 2012 By Dave Roberts “Are your cities going to make it for five years?” asked Little Hoover Commission Chairman Daniel Hancock at the recent commission hearing on pension and infrastructure financing. “That’s a good question,” responded Dwight Stenbakken, deputy
Read MoreBankruptcy series: The Road Ahead
Editor’s Note: This is the 11th in a CalWatchDog.com Special Series of in-depth articles on municipal bankruptcy. Nov. 14, 2012 By Chriss Street Up through September 2011, Wall Street underwriters, bond counsels and other assorted securities industry camp followers were gloating over
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