Budget and Finance
Back to homepageCA admits higher taxes kill tax collection
Feb. 21, 2013 By Chriss Street Gov. Jerry Brown was just forced to admit reality. His supposed $5 billion boost in January tax collection from Proposition 30, which increased sales and income taxes, was really just an early collection of
Read MoreOutrage at CalPERS’ 85% rate hike for long-term care
Feb. 20, 2013 By Dave Roberts When tens of thousands of state employees signed up for the California Public Employees Retirement System‘s long-term care insurance plan as it was first offered in 1995, they thought they were doing the prudent
Read MoreWill Blue-State California become Detroit on the Pacific?
Environmentalists have used the allusion of the canary in the mineshaft when describing the importance of protecting the endangered Desert Sand Fly, Stephens Kangaroo Rat or the infamous Delta Smelt. By placing these insignificant creatures on the Endangered Species List,
Read MoreSplit-roll property tax would hit small business hard
Feb. 18, 2013 By Wayne Lusvardi The attacks on Proposition 13 never seem to end. The 1978 tax-cut initiative’s enemies, such as former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, conjure up a misleading image of large corporate owners of commercial real estate dodging
Read MoreBad economic news could confound state budget projections
Feb. 15, 2013 By John Seiler Gov. Jerry Brown’s cheery announcements of the state’s budget health are guiding budget spending priorities. As he said in his State of the State address, “The message this year is clear: California has once again
Read MoreAre higher taxes killing CA tax collection?
Feb. 11, 2013 By Chriss Street In January, California state tax collection beat Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2013-14 budget projections by $4.3 billion, or 39.1 percent. The out-performance was due to two expected one-time events that took place: $1 billion in
Read MoreDespite Prop. 30, CA revenues likely to miss the mark – again
Feb. 4, 2013 By Josephine Djuhana Will Gov. Jerry Brown get all the revenue increases he wants from Proposition 30, which voters passed last November? Brown recently said in an interview with Jeremy Hobson of Marketplace Morning Report that Prop.
Read MoreCalifornia a model for other states?
Feb. 3, 2013 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — California’s modern-day progressive Democrats keep crowing about the huge success they’ve had in taming the state’s budget deficit, thanks to Proposition 30‘s tax increases and other “reforms,” and now are championing the
Read MoreDo 57 percent really want higher CA property taxes?
Feb. 1, 2013 By Wayne Lusvardi A new public opinion poll reported 57 percent of all California “adults” would favor lowering the majority threshold required to pass “local school parcel taxes.” But only property owners — not all “adult” residents
Read MoreAffluence police tee off on Mickelson
Jan. 28, 2013 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — After hearing the criticism directed toward golfer Phil Mickelson for his modest comments about California’s highest-in-the-nation tax rates giving him cause to consider relocating, I was left wondering: What country do we
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