California Facing Worse Budgetary Concerns Than I Am

Nevada’s not the perfect place, not by a long shot.  Still, we’re doing better than California.  I don’t love this place only for the gun laws and open spaces, I didn’t leave California only to follow a romantic interest (even if that was a large part of the reasoning), and I’m not just staying here because I love the weather.

Glenn, I think you’ll be OK through this as your employer is fairly rooted to the spot considering the work you do.  Kath, at least you’re on the other coast.

From Sara Murray at the Wall Street Journal:

As of July 2009, California’s budget shortfall was 49.3% of its general funds. States have considered drastic options to fill such gaps.

“I looked as hard as I could at how states could declare bankruptcy,” said Michael Genest, director of the California Department of Finance who is stepping down at the end of the year. “I literally looked at the federal constitution to see if there was a way for states to return to territory status.”

There were no bankruptcy options, and the legislature chose to cut back sharply on education and health care to fill the gap. Mr. Genest already predicts the 2011 shortfall will outpace the projected $7 billion gap. It is a smaller deficit than this year’s gap, but the choices will be more difficult because so many cuts have already been made.

Mr. Genest estimated that, eventually, 40% of the state’s budget would go to the state Medicaid program, 40% to education, 10% to debt service and 6% to retiree medical services and pension—leaving little left for anything else, such as the state’s corrections system

And folks wonder why I deal with the heat in the summer, cold in the winter, and crazy traffic.  If those jokers in Sacramento don’t get their s**t together soon, Glenn and I may have to stock up on ammo to defend against the dirtbags they’ll have to release from the prisons.