Deukmejian Seeks Boost for Schools : Toxic Waste, Crime, Roads Also Figure in Annual Message

Gov. George Deukmejian told a joint session of the Legislature and a statewide television audience Tuesday that he intends to ask for a billion-dollar increase in funding for California public schools when he releases his proposed 1985-86 state budget later this week.

The fiscally conservative Republican governor, loosening state purse strings for the second straight year, also said he will soon submit a plan to create a new department of waste management to oversee the cleanup and disposal of toxic wastes and crack down on toxic polluters.

He also said he would propose more money for anti-crime measures and law enforcement personnel, and he promised “the biggest single year of state highway construction commitments in our history.”

Delivering his third State of the State address since he took office in 1983, Deukmejian portrayed himself as the one who put Humpty Dumpty California back together again after inheriting a state in fiscal disarray and on the verge of bankruptcy from former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.

“Two years ago, we faced a $1.5-billion deficit and we couldn’t pay our bills,” he said. “Crime was up, schools were in decline and too many businesses were closing. Eleven per cent of our friends and neighbors were out of work. . . .

“But today, California is working again. Our economy is up. Crime is down. Our schools are getting better, and 850,000 more residents are on the job today than were working two years ago. . . .

“As we begin this year, together we can proudly say that with the use of common sense, California is respected again.”

Deukmejian’s 21-minute speech, including 11 interruptions for applause, essentially was a general outline of his 1985-86 state spending plan that will be unveiled in detail on Thursday and represented a dramatic departure from his first State of the State address two years ago.

Then, because of the state’s gloomy fiscal picture, he called for deep spending cuts that touched off a bitter months-long budget battle with the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

A year later, thanks to what he called the “best economic recovery in decades,” he proposed spending increases for a variety of programs ranging from education to mental health, and it is apparent from his remarks Tuesday that he intends to build on that.

Reaction to the speech from both Republicans and Democrats was generally favorable.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) called it “very positive, very upbeat,” and reminded reporters that the toxic department Deukmejian proposed is contained in a bill that Brown is sponsoring.

Assembly GOP Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) said the governor made it clear that the state is “now being well run” and “with that history of success . . . we can embark on other agendas that he has outlined.”

Deukmejian said, “On Thursday, I will submit my proposed budget for the 1985-86 fiscal year. I can describe this budget with words the people deserve to hear from their elected officials every year: Ours is a balanced budget with no new taxes . . . .

“Last year, we set aside a 3.7% reserve ($950 million) for uncertainties and, indeed, we needed that reserve on a number of occasions. This year, we must be prepared for a possible reduction in the rate of economic growth and possibly no growth in federal funds due to the problem of the national deficit.

“So I will insist that we again allocate 3.7% of our general fund to be used in case of emergencies. We must manage the people’s money wisely, and be ready for a rainy day, even in sunny California.”

Even though he insisted two years ago that education would be his highest priority, he ended up playing political catch-up to the Legislature in allocating new money to schools. Last year, he shared credit with lawmakers on increased education funding. He clearly now intends to be in the forefront on that issue.

‘Highest Priority’

“As long as I’m governor, education will be California’s highest budget priority,” he said.

Toward that end, he said he will propose a 10% increase in funding in his new budget for all levels of education, including the University of California and the California State University and College systems, including the billion-dollar hike for kindergarten through 12th-grade schools.

He said he will ask that revenue from a new state lottery due to be started in the spring, which by law will go directly to local school districts, be used to provide students with up-to-date textbooks, schools supplies, lab equipment and access to computers.

“California’s renaissance in education funding and reform is perhaps the most significant change in state policy in this decade,” he said.

On toxics, Deukmejian said he would ask lawmakers to appropriate all of the $100 million in bond revenues approved by voters last November to clean up at least 10 toxic dump sites this year and said he would submit to the Commission on State Government Organization and Economy within the next three months his plan for a new department of waste management.

“We can no longer continue to dispose of waste using outdated methods and we must coordinate the state’s regulation in this area,” he said. “This department will be responsible for the cleanup and disposal of waste, including hazardous toxics, and encourage the development of the new technology we must have to rid our society of this growing and dangerous burden.”

The governor called for a “statewide partnership” to rebuild California roads, sewers, water systems, parks, jails and public buildings, in addition to a massive infusion of new state money into highway construction.

Emphasizing his law-and-order image, the governor reported he has now appointed 163 judges who “will be as concerned about the rights of victims as they are about the rights of the accused” and took the opportunity to once again criticize one of his favorite political targets, the state Supreme Court, for its failure to implement the state’s death penalty law.

“Juries, by unanimous verdicts, have convicted and imposed the death penalty on over 170 murderers since 1977,” he said. “During these past seven years, many innocent people have been murdered, but not one murderer has paid the ultimate penalty.

“Our California Supreme Court should give great deference to the vote of the people and the laws passed by the Legislature. The people have been patient long enough.”