Everyone should be worried that the State is still unable to adopt a budget for the next (actually, this) fiscal year. It's starting to have real consequences.
It's not unusual for the State's budget to be late. However, local government budgets were adopted on time - by June 30. Tough decisions were made by hundreds of cities, counties and special districts. Yet now "borrowing" from local governments, redevelopment agencies and voter-approved transportation funds appear to be on the table.
Mayor Bill Shinn has written this letter (pdf) to Senator Tom Torlakson and Assemblymember Mark DeSaulnier opposing borrowing from local government and closing with "...the State should balance its budget with state funds - no more and no less." Bill's absolutely right.
I believe Senator Torlakson and Assemblymember DeSaulnier are trying to to the right thing. They need our support and need to hear from us.
