Budget and Finance
Back to homepageGov. Brown’s new budget seeks to equalize the unequal
Jan. 10, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — Many in the state refer to the annual California governor’s January budget proposal as fantasy. Gov. Jerry Brown did not disappoint today as he presented his budget — “balanced and fair,” according
Read More
‘Fiscal cliff’ tax increases will slam U.S., CA
Jan. 2, 2013 By John Seiler Congress and President Obama just worked out a deal for massive tax increases that will slam Californians. The federal tax hikes hit even the middle class, whose payroll taxes will rise 2 percentage points.
Read MoreHigher down payments could be compromise Prop. 13 reform
Jan. 2, 2013 By Wayne Lusvardi Could simply requiring higher down payments on home loans be a compromise reform of Proposition 13? The Democratic Party supermajority in the state legislature is presently pushing for reforms of Proposition 13, the 1978 initiative
Read MoreLegislators make new push to gut Prop. 13
Dec. 27, 2012 By Katy Grimes The final votes from the November election were not even counted before state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, introduced a constitutional amendment to Proposition 13 to forever alter the landmark tax-revolt measure. Let the debate begin.
Read MoreSan Bernardino may have to pay pensions before police protection
Dec. 26, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Do pension payments have the first claim to a bankrupt city’s revenues, even over providing essential police and fire protection? This is the half-trillion-dollar question currently before a Federal bankruptcy court concerning the insolvency
Read MoreCalifornia encourages business flight
Dec. 21, 2012 By Joseph Perkins Employees at Chevron’s San Ramon corporate headquarters received an unexpected email yesterday. It notified them that a quarter of their jobs are being moved from California to Texas. The oil giant, the Golden State’s
Read MoreEconomist outlines CA road to prosperity
Dec. 20, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — California’s economy isn’t dead — yet. With a few smart, pro-growth policy changes, California could get back in the game and be the economic leader it once was, Jonathan Williams told me
Read MoreCA public worker pay soars to unsustainable levels
Dec. 19, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Last week Bloomberg News reported that California has the highest paid state workers in the 12 largest states by population. But that didn’t tell the entire story. Sure, California has the highest paid public
Read MoreReality could stifle Prop. 13 reform attempts
Dec. 18, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi and Charles B. Warren California legislators from San Francisco are “eager to reform Proposition 13 tax policies.” But public perception is far apart from reality when it comes to the proposed reforming of Prop.
Read More