Tight spending for California in Gov. Brown’s budget proposal

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Gov. Jerry Brown has presented his budget proposal and pledged to keep a tight lid on spending to prevent the fiscal backsliding of previous years.

And after years of dripping red ink, California’s $96.7-billion general fund is positioned to end next year with a surplus, after to years of deep budget cuts and billions in new voter-approved taxes last year. It would be only the second budget surplus in the last decade.

READ THE SUMMARY: Gov. Brown’s proposed 2013-2014 budget

Legislative leaders, however, have already suggested they’ll push to restore many government services that were rolled back in recent years.

The tussle among the governor, lawmakers and lobbyists typically lasts for months. Lawmakers have until June to pass a final budget.

The Times’ Sacramento bureau chief Evan Halper joins City Desk editor Shelby Grad for a live discussion at 2 p.m. PST about the budget, where the cuts come and what comes next.

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