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CSAC Summary of Governor's 2009-10 Proposed State Budget

Jan 5 -- As we reported last week, Finance Director Mike Genest released the Governor's 2009-10 Proposed Budget on December 31, 2008. Citing the unprecedented budget crisis, the Governor reportedly directed the Department of Finance to prepare and release the proposal early, indicating that the state could not wait for the customary January 10 deadline.

The state's General Fund deficit through the end of the 2009-10 fiscal year is $41.6 billion.

The Governor's proposal intends to resolve that deficit by adding $4.6 billion in new solutions to proposals previously released during the November Special Session. Director Genest emphasized that the value of these solutions erodes dramatically if not enacted immediately. Please note that most of the solutions were included in the Governor's November Special Session proposal and are summarized in CSAC's Budget Action Bulletin Special Session No. 1. This summary will review new proposals in the Governor's plan, as well as several of the previously proposed budget solutions.

It remains unclear how this proposal will affect the ongoing negotiations between the Governor and Democratic leadership about the budget package approved in December. One thing is abundantly clear:without immediate action, the state will meet fiscal disaster.

Click here to read CSAC's summary of the Governor's 2009-10 Proposed State Budget. 

 
 
 
CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government Sets Course Schedule

Jan 5 -- To meet the growing demand for continuing education specific to California county government, CSAC has launched the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government. This program will provide county supervisors, senior staff and up-and-coming county government leaders hands-on courses in a wide range of topics, from current issues such as realignment funding and climate change mandates to policy development and effective communications.  

The winter/spring 2009 schedule kicks off with the course "The Art & Practice of Elected Leadership," Feb. 12 in Sacramento. This course will help elected officials consider the dilemmas they face in balancing authority and leadership, decision-making and public involvement. 

To learn more about the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government, including upcoming courses, click here.