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Governor Releases Jan. 2007-08 Budget: Minor $52,000 Cut Proposed to PLF
TO: CLA Members/ Systems/ Network Contacts
FROM: Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina Dillon, CLA Lobbyist
RE: News From the Capitol
Shortly after 1 p.m. today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, aided by a set of crutches since his ski accident over the holidays, took to the stage at the Secretary of State's auditorium to present his January 2007-08 Budget. He joked with reporters briefly about the ski accident, noting that he has "pain, ongoing pain, 24 hours a day." But for the most part, the press conference took a serious tone as the Governor referred to his Budget as a "responsible Budget," and a "prudent and realistic Budget."
The Governor's Budget proposes to eliminate the net operating deficit completely, however he suggests doing so through ratifying controversial pending Indian gaming compacts (that failed during last year's end-of-session deliberations), recommends $324 million in cuts to the state's CalWORKs welfare-to-work program, repeal of the Teacher Tax Credit for a savings of $165 million, funding shifts in major transportation programs, etc. The Budget also notes there will be a "Budget reduction of $100 million to be allocated to all departments. The Department of Finance will work with Agency Secretaries and other cabinet members to achieve General Fund savings of $100 million in 2007-08."
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, in a press conference held shortly after 2:30 p.m., called the Governor's Budget "basically on the right track," but noted his strong opposition to some of the cuts, particularly in the areas of CalWORKS. Noted the Speaker, "The last thing we want to do is balance this Budget on the back of poor children and single mothers."
The State Library budget was held relatively harmless from reductions, as the overall State Library budget baseline remains essentially what it was last year. With regard to the Public Library Foundation and Transaction Based Reimbursement, despite our lobbying efforts of the Administration during the winter, we knew it would be difficult to see any increases in funding for these two programs in the January version of the Budget. The Transaction Based Reimbursement remains at approximately $19.5 million (no change) and the Public Library Foundation is funded in the amount of $21,308,000.
Please note that the PLF is proposed for a small $52,000 reduction to fund a State Library project, which is explained by the Governor's Office in the Budget document, as follows:
MAJOR PROGRAM CHANGES
- The Budget provides $52,000 General Fund to initiate the California State Library's Integrated Library System Replacement Project.
- The Budget shifts $52,000 from the Public Library Foundation in order to fund the initial stage of the Integrated Library System Replacement Project.
In February, the Legislative Analyst will release her "Perspectives and Initiatives" review of the Governor's Budget, and then in approximately mid March the Budget Subcommittees will begin the task of reviewing the Governor's Budget. Once the Subcommittee members are named, we will alert the field so that you may begin writing letters on behalf of increased funding for the Public Library Foundation.
Posted on January 10, 2007 3:39 PM | Permalink