Come on -- no more tax increases > Rexroad.com

California does not have a revenue problem. It is a spending problem.

This article in the Sacramento Bee tells me that a large portion of the Legislature does not get it.

Tax increases is not the answer. State revenues have increases dramatically over the past five years. Tax increases are not necessary.

Comments

By Super K @ Wednesday, July 09, 2008 6:53 AM

I'm not saying that the state government isn't bloated...but where are you suggesting the cuts should be made?

By perkoff @ Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:51 AM

Government has an insatiable appetite for money! A ravenous apetitie that is never satisfied! It's past time for local, state and the federal government to what private citizens do when times get tough, "CUT SPENDING!" Apparently that is a concept that is unacceptiable and foreign to the politicians and bureaucrates spending our money! Of course they have the answer, raise taxes, and charge outlandish fees for so called services! And don't forget fines and civil penalites for the violation of some obscure ordinance or regulation! Hell if that isn't enough to generate revenues they might even locate a prison in your backyard to feed the insatiable appetite..........

By floatingfoam @ Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:47 PM

I would also like to know what should be cut. It is an easy thing to say that we need to trim gov't spending, and most wouldn't disagree.

By perkoff @ Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:17 PM

Where to cut? Cut 15% of the states work force over a two year period ...shave staffs of legislatures by a half and the Governors by a third just for starters...and we have witnessed throwing money at education and getting less ...and you can't think of a thing to cut? What if a blue ribben commission made up of leading CEO's of major businesses made recommedations to cut government expeditures and at the same time increase efficiancy would you accept that....bet most wouldn't! most would believe the various public employe unions who are spending outragious amounts of money to increase the number of public employees on the States pay roll! A rose is a rose, and propaganda is mostly lies!

By Super K @ Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:36 PM

So we cut 15% from the Integrated Waste Management Board? This will affect our environment in the future.

Do we cut 15% from the Department of Pesticide Regulation? This would take a huge toll on people who ensure that pesticides are not used in a harmful way.

Do we cut 15% from the Department of Real Estate? I would hate to have my title search done in a sloppy manner, it could cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future.

Do we cut 15% from the University of California? I think we need to do whatever we can in order to remain a global powerhouse economy.

I'm just wondering where the money should come from...specifically.

By floatingfoam @ Friday, July 11, 2008 10:32 AM

Leading CEOs might do a terrific job of making their own businesses more efficient, and some might even take the time to learn about the state agencies they are asked to investigate if given the task.

I believe that restructuring a large gov't agency would be an enormous job, and most CEOs would fall back on 10% cuts across the board.

This isn't to say that I'm opposed to restructuring bureaucracies, I just believe most people who cry out for less gov't spending don't really understand what it would entail and how much 'across the board cuts' can damage critical services.

By perkoff @ Friday, July 11, 2008 11:23 AM

Apparently some, probably those who are employed by a government dept or agency are so indoctrinated to believe there isn't waste in government programs...

By JK @ Friday, July 11, 2008 11:55 AM

And some people would rather rant and have us chasing boogymen rather than actually make a point.

That said, I don't think many of us know where cuts can be made - we hope the legislature does, but we assume they're as clueless as us.

By Super K @ Friday, July 11, 2008 12:10 PM

Absolutely- I do work for the state. I also used to own a business.

I know that there is waste in the state government, no doubt about it. I also know that 10, or 15% cuts across the board is an absolutely idiotic way to make the government more efficient.

Let's say you do set up 15% cuts. Well, the people who are layed off will be the youngest, newest employees. That would leave the more 'entrenched' employees to run the services that these departments are supposed to provide.

Not only would that cause a short-term problem, but a long term problem as well. When these older employees finally started to leave, a lot of the institutional knowledge would leave with them.

The state government is a huge organization, and believe it or not- all of it is important to SOMEONE. What I think is an absolute waste of time, is the only thing keeping someone else going.

I would highly recommend that a lot of this starts at the top. We should look at the way we deal with unions. We should look at each department and determine what they are trying to do, and the best way to achieve that goal.

Just chopping off 15% of the workforce is just going to cut the legs out from under the state- and I think that is an ignorant way to go about a long-term change.

Unless of course you think we should just have a knee-jerk reaction, saving some money real quick without a plan for the future.

By floatingfoam @ Friday, July 11, 2008 12:51 PM

Matt, care to comment?

By griffith @ Friday, July 11, 2008 5:53 PM

My money saving ideas pertain to Yolo County.

1)Start buying the counties electric power and natural gas in blocks 4 to 6 months out on the open market and use PG&E for transportation purposes only. The County and all the incorporated cities within the county had better start thinking outside the box in order to survive in this market of rising energy costs.

2) Another great way to save a boat load of money is to abolish the Davis Bacon Act. Of course this would have to taken care of on a State and Federal level.

3)The County needs to start laying off employees. I am not talking about the maintenance workers and janitors. The county needs to start its lay offs at the top and work down.

4)Wages, Benefits and Retirement packages need to be revaluated. If any employees have a problem with reduced wages and benefits they need to be told to hit the road and find a new job.

While considering the above remember the Yolo County Motto: Doing right by others

By Matt Rexroad @ Friday, July 11, 2008 8:22 PM

Sorry. I have not been with it lately. Working non-stop and not even able to look at this.

I have several things to offer on this. Will post later tonight.

By Matt Rexroad @ Friday, July 11, 2008 11:54 PM

I agree with Karl that 15% across the board is just stupid. That is true for a ton of reasons.

First, not all things are equally important.

Second, it shows poor leadership. People have to make choices.

Finally, it does not change the shape of government. It just grows right back into place when the revenues go up.

I think government wastes a ton of money by not evaluating what works. Look at state government. There is a ton of waste because people are not willing to challenge what exists.

Here are some of the many things I would like to do ---

Charge full rate for some graduate higher education programs. Why should we subsidize the legal or medical education of someone with a huge upside for their income. Instead we should subsidize those that practice in certain sectors.

The Department of Corrections needs to be reformed. We are not fixing anyone right now. We are just housing people so they can come back. Rehabilitation has to be part of this budget fix.

Education categorical programs need to be reduced on eliminated. Let local school district choose.

Tax reform. We do not need a separate Franchise Tax Bureau and Board of Equalizaton. Consolidate them. Take the federal returns and have people simply multiple by a percentage to figure out their state tax rate.

Adopt some levels of personal responsibility for personal health. We need to stop using tax money to tell people how to live. If they make bad choices -- they should pay the consequences.

How is that for a start?

Matt

By Matt Rexroad @ Friday, July 11, 2008 11:55 PM

I would also get rid of paying prevailing wage for the construction of public facilities. That is a huge waste of tax money for billions in construction project each year.

By perkoff @ Saturday, July 12, 2008 11:40 AM

Ok, Mr. Politican, keep on spending and keep on raising taxes because apparently the majority of our legislatiors are unwilling to make cuts, and decrease spending, it's the same old thing, tax, tax and tax and if they can get by with it, call it something other then a tax, call it a fee.......and change spending to an investment...California is becoming the most taxed state in the united states, now that' a distintion worth working for!...but what do I know, I'm stupid for suggesting cutting back on the number of State employees!

perkoff

By JK @ Monday, July 14, 2008 11:13 AM

Uh Perk... did you even read anything he said?

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