Schwarzenegger tries to stay relevant as Jerry Brown moves in

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While Jerry Brown is preparing to tackle the state’s financial problems when he takes office in January, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is reminding people that he is still in charge until then, and hopes to have his own solution to this year’s budget shortfall before his successor takes over.

‘We are keeping the governor-elect engaged,’ said Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor. ‘We are keeping him apprised of what we are doing.’ But, he added, ‘This is the governor’s decision.’

McLear said the current administration is not seeking an agreement from Gov.-elect Brown on budget fixes that will be presented to a special session of the Legislature on Dec. 6. ‘We’re not asking permission from the governor-elect for anything,’ McLear said.

‘The governor is still in office until the end of the year and the special session is his move.’ Brown is holding his second meeting Tuesday with Department of Finance officials since he was elected. State officials have estimate there will be a $6-billion shortfall in the current fiscal year ending in June 2011, and $19.3 billion in the next fiscal year.

The state Department of Finance is currently finalizing the numbers, McLear said. ‘Likely, Dec. 6 we will have the [shortfall] number announced as well as the plan to solve for that number and the bills to get us there,’ McLear said.

-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento