Brownley says state budget outlook grim

Julia Brownley

Financially speaking, the next couple of years aren't going to be easy in California. That was the message gathered from Assemblymember Julia Brownley's recent talk with members of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.

"It's hard to know what the next year is going to look like," said Brownley (D-Woodland Hills). "There's been talk that it's the year for health care reform, the year of education, term limits, redistricting. It's hard to understand what the priorities are coming from the governor's office."

A report from the legislative analyst's office had been released the day before the luncheon, Brownley said. Despite attempts to balance the budget and maintain a $4 billion reserve, the report is forecasting a $10 billion deficit.

"And if I could lock in that number, $10 billion, I would," Brownley said. "It's hard to know whether it might indeed get worse."

The deficit is a result of a number of costs, including courtordered payments to teachers, pay hikes for prison guards, and Indian gaming monies not coming in as expected. The housing slump, lower property taxes and rising gas prices have also affected the deficit. The situation could mean tax increases, program cuts or both, Brownley said.

Because of the disappointing update on the budget, the outlook for other projects looks bleak, she said.

"If we did health care on a universal basis the way the governor wants to, it would cost a whole lost of money- billions," Brownley said. "Is that viable at this point?"

She also said that solving water system issues and education funding will be impossible as well.

"I'm worried again about the state's indebtedness," Brownley said. "We need to take a hard look at new investments. It needs to be a year where Democrats and Republicans need to work very closely together, and so do the Legislature and the governor. "We need to solve these budget problems so we can solve our other problems. In 2009 maybe, or 2010, we'll be in better shape."

Brownley mentioned recent studies showing that California's education ranking has climbed, although it's still 34th in the nation in per pupil spending. Just to reach the national average would cost the state $6 billion, she said.

Brownley tried to offer a bright side, but acknowledged it was going to be a tough task to get California's budget back on track.

"I might have painted a doomand-gloom picture," Brownley said, "but it's not. We have tremendous opportunity in this state. But we are going to have to grapple with and address our budget."

Brownley was elected a year ago and sworn in in December. As a freshman Assembly member, Brownley served on committees dedicated to her two top priorities: education and the environment, including the education budget and policy committees.

"I've learned a whole lot," Brownley said. "Having some background in education and in environmental issues was good, but then getting up there and having so many different issues . . . I had to get up to speed quickly."

Brownley's package of bills included a measure to ensure foster children's medical records be moved with them. Another she carried mandated that sex education in statefunded private and nonprofit organizations be bias-free.

A measure that garnered some attention was nicknamed the "Mel Gibson bill." It prohibits public officials such as police officers from selling information or photos.