State budget balancer

In 2009, The Times created the tool below to allow readers to try their hand at closing California's budget shortfall, at the time estimated at $26.3 billion. To tackle the $28 billion deficit facing the state for the rest of this year and next visit The Times' new California budget balancer at latimes.com/budgetbalancer.

Los Angeles Times

November 15, 2010

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TRY THE NEW BUDGET BALANCER|FOLLOW LATEST BUDGET NEWS | 2009 BUDGET DETAILS | 2009 COVERAGE |

Source: Times reporting, California Department of Finance, Legislative Analyst's Office | Credit: David Lauter and Evan Halper | Flash: Sean Connelley

Comments (16)

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GerardoMontaño at 11:06 AM January 11, 2011 The state of California has many options to balance its budget; don't be fooled into thinking "CUTS" are our only answer.

Create your own balanced budget to see what Califas' legislators are grappling with...tough choices for everyone. Imagine what the budget would have looked like if Meg Whitman was our Governor?

@ Ephemeris...tell it like it is brotha'~ California's Corrections (and rehabilitation) Department has an annual budget of 10 Billion dollars, yet the recidivsm (released inmates recommit crimes) rate is at a wopping 70-75%?! -quite wasteful and inneffiecient

Also, why are VOTERS so repulsed by the word: TAXES

I mean taxing alcohol, cigarrettes, marijuana, and even the wealthiest are all sound ideas. Right?

Paz,

RichardSweigart at 12:39 AM January 11, 2011

i dont understand why it is so hard when to balance & fix it seems so clear. i hope jerry you could do these cuts & recommdations to fix this budget issue.school system needs big time work we are pay so much on pensions & not in the class rooms & it is crazy to pay for illegals that are not helping the state i believe all people should be given a chance but.people need to work & give back. health care needs for the disable & are aged americans needs more not less.taxes raise in the right area is a must.inmates this issue needs big time reduce sentance time & first time offense $52k per yr to house,most california dont make that working & we need to address the state not letting calif inmates go.when we are housing to many of them. as a citizen if i break the law i get in trouble however when the state does it its ok.feds say let some go ..lets do it & start do the right thing!

r.s

Yogi_Bears_Tie at 3:45 PM January 10, 2011

Took all of 5 minutes to balance the budget. CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT. People will provide for themselves if not given a choice to let others do for them, and will be happier about it.

“I pledge by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”
John Galt

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