Gov. Brown's 2012-2013 budget was released this week, and it includes several cuts that will directly impact state employees, first among them the elimination of another 3,000 state employee positions on top of the 15,000 positions cut in the 2011-2012 budget.
At a press conference covering the budget release, Director of Finance Ana Matosantos stated that "many" of the 3,000 positions to be cut will be within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and that the "goal is to redirect employees to facilities that have vacancies and minimize layoffs to the extent possible." According to the budget, CDCR's budget will be cut by $1.1 billion, or 18%.
In order to avoid further cuts to education and public safety, Gov. Brown has proposed for inclusion on November's ballot two temporary revenue increases in the form of a half-cent sales tax increase and an income tax increase on wealthy citizens that would generate nearly $7 billion for the programs. Without the revenue increases, schools would face cuts that would necessitate shortening the school year by three weeks.
Gov. Brown stated that if his proposed temporary revenue increases are approved by voters, the state will be on track to eliminate its $33 billion deficit -- also known as the "Wall of Debt" -- by the 2015-2016 budget cycle.
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