Source: Times reporting, California Department of Finance, Legislative Analyst's Office | Credit: David Lauter and Evan Halper | Flash: Sean Connelley
State budget balancer
Try your hand at closing Californias budget shortfall, now estimated at $26.3 billion. Its not easy, but it can be done. Cut spending, raise taxes and/or borrow to get the state out of the red. For each choice -- drawn from proposals from across the political spectrum -- weve tried to give some sense of the effects. As you craft your proposal, the Deficit Meter will show your progress.
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
E-mail
Print
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
COMMENTS (6) | Add Comment
Cut services to illegals and save 5 billion a year... where was that button???? @ Donald, I agree. We'll never get out of this mess so long as unions are in bed with dem reps who drag their feet at any real reform and love throwing our money to the wind. Disgusting.
@Tom - are you serious? Just raise all of the taxes? Do you work for a living or are you in the 20% who is collecting services from the taxpayers?
llamahed (02/05/2010, 11:15 AM )
"The essential problem with raising taxes is that it creates a less dynamic society by transferring less concentrated power to more concentrated (government) power." This is false. If you spend money on affordable college education, you take money that is concentrated in the pockets of CA's millionaires, and make it possible for the students to get higher paying jobs when they graduate, which increases the Tax base. An under educated population is what causes companies to move their business to where there are skilled workers, not the trivial differences in taxes from state to state.Yes, the problem is Under-taxation, which concentrates 95% of CA wealth in the hands of 1% of the population.
TeedRockwell (02/02/2010, 4:02 PM )
If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form. Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. Web and/or e-mail addresses are not permitted. Note: Comments are moderated and will not appear until they have been reviewed by Los Angeles Times staff.
Save more than 
Why no option to Increase revenue by Leaglizing (non-Indian) Casinos to rival Vegas?
or
Leaglizing (and taxing) other sins like drugs or prostitution?
Or
Cut taxes to stimulate investment and revenue?
or
Laying off 20% of State workers?
or
Checking Citzenship of people at Emergency rooms, schools, and other state services and deporting people not legally here?
So many things and ways youjust chose to leave out as options!
Jtisue (02/05/2010, 9:29 PM )