http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com they really do exist Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:09:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Debt service is a term often thrown around in California budgeting language. What is it, and how does it impact the budget? Debt service is the payments made on bonds and other debt (mostly bonds) that California owes. Debt service must be paid first, from the General Fund. Sometimes the bonds ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/21/what-is-debt-service/ The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) recently released a report saying that California faces a $20+ billion deficit in the next budget cycle, and for the foreseeable future. In fact, the report detailed how, under certain conditions, that deficit could rise to $25 billion. So how does the state close a ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/20/what-options-does-california-have/ Not all states have a two-tiered university system like California. California has the CSU system, and then the UC system. It is generally perceived that the UC system is a better quality than the CSU system. Fees for Spring 2010 at the CSU system are$2450 for a full-time, resident undergraduate. This includes a ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/19/fees-at-universities-in-california/ The LAO report detailed that the state is spending more than it is bringing in. There is simply more spending than revenues. The LAO estimates at least a $20 billion deficit in the budget for the next 5 years. What does this mean? That the state has to find $20 billion ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/19/the-lao-report/ For those of you who have been reading this blog, you know that I have pegged the budget deficit for the next budget building cycle at $20+ billion. I have been confirmed by the LAO who has pegged the budget deficit at $21 billion. Their report will be available on the ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/18/lao-predicts-21-billion-deficit/ On November 9, 2009 the Governor said California will end this fiscal year $7 billion out of balance. The Department of Finance puts this number at $7.4 billion. Both of these don't consider the possibility that cuts are going to be blocked in the courts. The LAO will release their ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/17/one-way-unfavorable-to-help-close-the-budget-gap/ Regulatory agencies cost money to run. According to the 2009-10 enacted budget, the Air Resources Board (ARB) had a total of $879,398,00 in funding, with $196,000 coming from the General Fund (click here to see the detail from the Department of Finance). With that money, the Air Resources Board is considering ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/16/what-are-the-regulatory-agencies-doing/ Ballot box budgeting. It is a phrase used by the state government to describe the constraints on the budget process that voters have approved. Such constraints include Prop. 13, Prop. 98, all bond measures, after-school program funding, and all sorts of programs. There is also the requirement of a 2/3 ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/14/legislature-is-the-source-of-ballot-box-budgeting/ More and more borrowing. That is what the state of California is relying on to pay for everything these days. There are bonds to cover building new children's hospitals (even though that bond money goes to mostly private hospitals, not public). Bonds cover building new schools and improving technology at ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/13/the-gov-defends-more-borrowing/ It is November 10th - exactly 2 months before the Governor releases his budget on January 10th. This morning, the Governor announced that there is a $7 billion hole in the budget that must be closed. His solution - massive cuts and no tax hikes. How did this hole come to ... http://acaliforniarepublican.today.com/2009/11/10/at-least-a-7-billion-gap-in-the-budget/