San Franciscans get the chance to help city leaders balance the budget
If you think you have the answers, San Francisco elected leaders want to hear from you. Read More
Categories: Budget Reform
Pension reform effort in Southern California ends abruptly
Los Angeles will not have pension reform on the ballot in the coming city election but the next mayor will most likely need to make the contentious and complex issue a top priority. Read More
Categories: Government, Budget Reform
Slashed student state worker jobs amount to a drop in the bucket
Are politicians tone deaf when it comes to the message they send with various raises and pay-cuts? Read More
Categories: Education, Budget Reform
LAO Report: GPAA could save state millions
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), which provides nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis for the Legislature, finds that the California Forward Action Fund’s Government Performance and Accountability Act (GPAA) would - over time – save the state millions of dollars. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Budget Reform
Teamwork and stable funding critical to strengthening CA public schools
California’s schools have seen a 20% reduction in expected funding from the state since 2007. And, with another $1.4 billion in trigger cuts looming, school board members came out in force at the CA School Boards Association (CSBA) annual conference to advocate for a commitment to public education. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Budget Reform
CA Fwd measure “critical” to solving state’s problems, says Tavaglione
“California as we see it today is not the state that we saw even ten years ago,” said Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione, stressing that it is critical to pass the California Forward Government Performance and Accountability Act to help get the state back on its feet. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Civic Engagement, Budget Reform
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of forecasted operating deficits
Once again the Legislative Analyst has pulled back the curtain on California’s budgeting practices, announcing last week that the state is likely to have a $3 billion deficit at the end of this fiscal year. This means we can expect significant mid-year cuts to education and social services programs under the budget “trigger” mechanism. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Budget Reform
CA Latino leaders focus on budget and community service
Latino leaders in San Diego came together last week to find ways to navigate California’s budget problems. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Civic Engagement, Budget Reform
Governor rejects needed budget reforms
One of the reasons California faces chronic multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls is that we use a broken budget system that leads to automatic increases in state spending each year. The only way to solve our long-term budget problems is by adopting true budget reform. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Budget Reform
Fiscal reforms sacrificed in same old story
In today's Sacramento Bee, former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry takes a closer look at some of the substantive and reformative bills that did not make it off the governor's desk, including SB 14, which would have helped stabilize the fiscal process, hold lawmakers accountable to the people they serve, and restore some trust in government. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Jerry Brown, Budget Reform
The ABCs of public accountability
Perhaps not surprisingly, the state of California announced this week it is $705 million short of first quarter revenue estimates, meaning so-called “trigger cuts” to the budget will go into effect. The only glimmer of hope – though dim – is word that school districts and Cal State and UC campuses have already been making plans to cover the automatic cuts triggered by this shortfall. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Budget Reform, Restructuring
Unanimous, Bipartisan ... and Vetoed
California faces enormous challenges – making essential public programs work with fewer dollars, helping young people prepare for an uncertain future, and reviving our sick economy. That's why we are so disappointed that Governor Brown vetoed SB 14 (Wolk), a critical cornerstone to the kind of governance changes that could restore opportunities for Californians -- and maybe even confidence and trust in their elected officials. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Governance Reform
Americans place their trust in local governments
Shrinking budgets and bipartisan politics have not shaken the trust Americans have in local governments--finds a recent Gallup Poll. However, in western states such as California, that trust is a little less bulletproof. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Civic Engagement, Budget Reform, Restructuring
Governor could improve voters’ trust in government
Gov. Jerry Brown says he has 600 bills on his desk, but many he will not sign because "there's not 600 problems that we need those solutions for." We suggest he locate and sign two bills, SB14 and SB15, that help solve two of his biggest problems: the annual budget mess and the lack of public trust in Sacramento's leadership, which voters say are closely linked. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Fiscal Reform Plan, Leadership Council, Accountability, Budget Reform
Californians put money-talk on hold until waste goes down and trust goes up
It is hard to talk about dysfunction in California government without talking about money. And it is hard everywhere these days to talk about taxes. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Accountability, Transparency, Budget Reform, Restructuring
Removing the blindfold: Why California needs transparency
A recent dispute between Assembly members John Perez and Anthony Portantino highlights a problem that sits at the foundation of California's broken government: a disturbing lack of transparency and accountability. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, State Budget, Accountability, Transparency, Budget Reform
CA voters favor early release of nonviolent offenders and part-time legislature
A new poll finds that most California voters would rather see some prisoners receive shorter sentences than raise taxes or cut education to pay prison-related costs. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Transparency, Budget Reform
CA Fwd Policy Consultant John Maltbie testifies on performance-based budgeting
John Maltbie appeared before a California Assembly budget subcommittee last week to discuss the merits of performance-based budgeting, including measuring whether programs are working and signaling when adjustments need to be made. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Budget Reform
Can you say…punt?
The budget package legislative Democrats are voting on today may solve one problem that has plagued the state in recent years: It will allow legislators to say they passed a budget on time. But that’s about all it does. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Budget Reform
As budget deadline arrives, some turn to prayer as last best option
Perhaps faith leaders who gathered at the state capitol had the right idea -- a prayer -- in response to increasing anxiety about our state budget. The budget deadline comes on the same day as a new Field Poll showing support for both Gov. Brown and his tax extensions slipping. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Budget Reform