Schwarzenegger: 'Dial back' spending, services to 1999 levels

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that with revenue dropping back to levels last seen a decade ago, state spending and services have to be cut back to that level as well.

"It’s very important to note that our revenues now are back to the 1999 level," Schwarzenegger told reporters after a prayer breakfast in Sacramento. "So we have to do drastic measures. We have to dial back to what was happening in 1999, what kind of programs were available and what kind of programs were not available, and where did we expand on spending, and then eliminate all those [added] programs in order to make ends meet."

Schwarzenegger was concerned that new revenue projections expected later may paint a grimmer picture, but he said voters made it clear in Tuesday’s election that they didn’t want more taxes or extensive borrowing.

 "People also made it very clear to me personally throughout the campaign -- 'We [voters] have to sell off our boats. We have to sell off our motorcycles. We have to sell off our art. We have to have garage sales. We have to sell off our second homes, why aren’t you in Sacramento doing the same thing?’ " the governor added.

He said that public sentiment was the reason he proposed selling off surplus state property, including San Quentin State Prison and the Los Angeles Coliseum.

"The people are absolutely right. We should do the same thing as they are doing," Schwarzenegger said.

The governor also indicated that he was having second thoughts about extensive borrowing. "We are also very clear that we don’t want to solve this budget through gimmicks and much borrowing," he said.

-- Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[Ailey]

Finally, a sensible proposal. But we need to make sure we don't keep a full complement of overpaid bureaucrats with fat pensions and benefits and cut all the services. Let's start the cuts with the spending on public employees, who need to be held to the same standards as their private counterparts - improve productivity to justify ANY salary increases, or have your salary cut. And it's time to put public employees on 401ks, not pensions. As things are, they are completely insulated from the effects of the bloated spending and high taxes that is driving business away from California. If their economic well being also depended on a healthy economy, not on the taxpayer dole, they too might have a vested interest in high productivity and a leaner, more effective state government.

[trae]

Arnold is right, while he is listening to what the taxpayer's are saying Ms. Bass is attempting to get the 2/3 majority vote overturned. Instead of doing what they need to do, they find it easier to still pursue the taxpayer base. Imagine if the 2/3 majority vote was overturned, each homeowner's property would be the leverage for endless, wasteful government spending by the state of California. The taxpayer's said "work within your means!" Arnold gets it, it is now time to use his veto power.

[Mike_S]

A good 1999 target is State employee salary and pensions.

My parents grew up with the notion that State and Local employees worked for less than their private-sector counterparts for they traded income for the security of knowing their job was secure. Sheer greed now has them earning far more than their analogous privately employed counterparts. A 'welcome to 1999' salary and benefit package might remind them that public service is foremost service to the public--not lining one's own pockets.

[AL]

Oh yeah, can any of you afford to live on the salary you made in 1999? Your house is bigger, groceries cost more, and isn't that a bigger car you're driving? Now try to live on that 1999 salary. So, are you willing to downsize to a smaller place to live? Willing to forgo the latte? The point is this: in 1999 the population was 33,418,380. In 2009 the population is: 38,300,000. Do the math.