Jerry Brown comes to the Capitol to discuss budget

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Gov.-elect Jerry Brown held what he called a ‘very sobering meeting’ with officials at the state Department of Finance to try to get a handle on the scope of the state budget problem.

Brown is also meeting with Assembly Democrats and leaders of the state Senate on Thursday. Brown met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finance director, Ana Matosantos, for about an hour before talking to reporters.

Brown emerged from that meeting saying the state’s budget problems are ‘daunting.’ Brown must present a budget no more than one week after taking office Jan. 3. Finance officials say the spending plan must be finished by mid-December to meet the constitutional Jan. 10 deadline for a governor to present the budget.

Brown said he will begin working on the budget full-time after a weeklong vacation. ‘It certainly is as bad as it’s ever been,’ Brown said.

Brown told reporters he received a phone call from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson urging Brown to move to the state capital. Brown said not to worry. Although he is keeping his home in Oakland, he is also looking for a place to stay in Sacramento. ‘I’m not concerned about living quarters,’ he said.

--Anthony York in Sacramento