Governor Proposes More Cuts, Tax Hikes as State Faces New $16B Budget Gap

Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget numbers that he released Saturday show that California's budget deficit is nearly $6 billion more than he originally projected in January.

The New York Times reported Sunday that the state now faces a $16 billion gap, up from $9 billion, in round numbers. How that'll impact cities, however, remains unclear — at least until voters weigh in at the polls in November on Brown's tax initiative.

"This means that we will have to go much further, and make cuts far greater than I asked for at the beginning of the year," Brown said on Youtube, where he released his original statement. "But we can't fill a hole of this magnitude with cuts alone, without doing severe damage to our schools."

"That's why I'm bypassing the gridlock, and asking you, the people of California, to approve a plan that avoids cuts to schools and public safety," he added.

The governor's proposal would raise income taxes for top wage earners and sales taxes statewide would increase a quarter of one percent, he said.

Bloomberg published a story today on the "urgency" of the tax initiative. They explained it a little more:

"The plan would temporarily raise the statewide sales tax, already the highest in the U.S., to 7.5 percent from 7.25 percent. It would also boost rates on income starting at $250,000. Those making $1 million or more, now taxed at 10.3 percent, would pay 13.3 percent, the most of any state," the article stated.

John Meyers, a political editor and capitol reporter for ABC in Sacramento, reported on Twitter this afternoon that statewide, $1.2 billion will be stripped from health and human services, $544 million from courts, $400 million in state worker costs and more cuts to higher education.

In Sonoma, the City Council and school board of Sonoma Valley Unified have been hit hard by state funding cuts. The city's redevelopment agency, like 400 others throughout California, was disbanded, largely eliminating the funding source used to provide services such as government subsidies to nonprofit safety net programs, to remove blight and to spur development.

We're seeking comments from local residents. What do you think of the new state budget figures? Do you think it'll impact you, your business or organization? How?

Don't miss Brown's Youtube statement, where he released the new budget figures. It's attached to the right.