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Reaction to Schwarzenegger's state budget proposals
By The Associated Press
Thursday, January 10, 2008

(01-10) 16:35 PST , (AP) --
Here is a sample of the reaction to state budget proposals announced Thursday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which included across-the-board cuts, early release of more than 22,000 prisoners, some fee increases and state park closures:
"The budget proposed today is what a cuts-only budget looks like. ... Clearly, if it is passed as written, it would cause tremendous, permanent pain to the people of California." — Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles.
"I agree with the governor (that) we cannot tax our way out of this problem. We must regain control of spending and live within our means." — Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Tustin.
"The governor says the system is broken, but then he says we have to live with whatever the system spits out — even if that means closing parks, socking it to the students and ignoring the elderly, poor and disabled. We have real problems, but this is an overly pessimistic solution. The budget is asking us to abandon our values." — Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka.
"By no means can we solve California's budget problems by raiding the taxpayers' wallets. Though cuts are never easy, with over $140 billion annually flowing into the state's coffers, it is clear that we must cut the fat from the bloated Sacramento bureaucracy." — Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula.
"At a time when California must make substantial investment in schools in order for our young people to survive and succeed in the global economy, the governor's budget takes a giant step backward. I fear that the 'year of education' will become the year of education evisceration." — state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.
"If anybody can tell me how we can cut the budget to a point where we are happy in California and there are no new taxes, I would be happy to entertain that. I don't think that day is going to come soon." — Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.
"When fees rise, qualified and hardworking students are blocked from attending the University of California. Already fees have risen faster than the average income of hardworking Californians. The governor's budget proposal could mean fees climb by more than 7.4 percent, which students just cannot take." — Louise Hendrickson, president of the University of California Student Association.
"Today, the governor took aim at California's treasured state parks, releasing a budget that contains the most draconian cuts ever considered for the state park system. Never before have so many parks, and such a diversity of state parks, state historic parks, state recreation areas and state beaches been placed on the chopping block. The millions of Californians who visit their parks will not tolerate this and will lead the fight to keep our state parks open." — California State Parks Foundation.
"Slashing payments that will go toward providing health care to the poor will only exacerbate the health care crisis in California. These cuts will force doctors out of this important program, will force hospitals and clinics to close their doors and will force tens of thousands of patients to get their care in emergency rooms." — Richard Frankenstein, president of the California Medical Association.
"The governor's budget recognizes that the only way to cut prison spending is to reduce the number of people in prison. The next step is to make permanent changes and to reduce the number of prisons in the state, not build 53,000 more cells as envisioned in (legislation Schwarzenegger signed last year)." — Debbie Reyes, California Prison Moratorium Project.
"While the choices before us are difficult ones, across-the-board cuts, including the Legislature's budget, are a good way to start the discussion about how to cut spending because they avoid picking winners and losers. One thing is clear: Higher taxes will do nothing to solve the problem, and Republicans stand united in rejecting any attempt to raise taxes." — Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis.
"The governor's budget proposal justly recognizes that increasing small business taxes would hamper the ability of California small businesses to create new jobs and greater state revenue at a time when both are gravely needed." — John Kabateck, California executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

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July 14, 2009

       

They Wouldn’t Close an Entire State Park System, Would They?

                                       

Most of you have probably heard about California’s budget crisis by now.  Seems like this is almost a perpetual story in recent years, made particularly acute by the sagging state economy and serious decline in revenues to government at all levels in the state.  In an effort to make up a shortfall in excess of $23 billion, the governor has proposed some draconian cuts, including closing 220 of the 279 state park units in California.

Now you may be thinking There but for the grace of God go I.  I sincerely hope that the agency or organization that supports your position and programs is in good financial shape and that you’re not in immediate fear of losing a job or a program.  Whether your programs are secure or shaky, you may want to pay some attention to what’s happening in California.

California State Parks has a very active support group, the California State Parks Foundation, and many of the individual park units have auxiliary or friends groups that help raise funds and awareness for the parks.  These support groups have ramped up an extensive public awareness and advocacy campaign to fight the closure of state park units.  Similar efforts are underway for various local and county park systems around the state.

Park advocates point out that the cost of operating parks is but a fraction of one percent of the overall state budget, and that many parks bring in significant revenue, earning back a large part of their operating cost.  In an economy where many families are relying on state and local parks to provide camping opportunities, summer day camps and other inexpensive family recreation, closing parks and programs may have huge social costs as well.In another wrinkle on this complex story, the National Park Service has informed the state the federal government may take over six state parks that were created on former federal lands.  In transferring the land to California State Parks, there is a requirement that public access to the sites be maintained.  Some feel that closing these state parks would violate that agreement and the land should revert back to federal management (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/01/ap/national/main5127931.shtml).

The drive to rescue 220 state parks from the budget crisis is a good case study in justifying your existence in the political and socioeconomic arena.  The campaign has some well-developed and effective strategy—and a lot of supporters that are gathering momentum.  You never know when your staff and programs may be put in a similar position, and we might do well to watch the California campaign to gather successful ideas and strategy if we ever need them.

Here are a few web sites where you can learn more:

California State Parks Foundation: http://ga3.org/campaign/budget_may09

Save Our State Parks Campaign: http://www.savestateparks.org/