California County News

The Latest Happenings in the World of California Propositions: Monthly Recap

Curious about the latest happenings in the world of California propositions? Our sister site, CaliforniaPropositions.org, has a monthly newsletter to keep readers up-to-date on all relevant prop-related news. Read the newsletter here. This month we delve into a proposal that would result in the closure of the state’s nuclear power plants. In addition, Proposition 8 is back in the news, and a second initiative has qualified for the November 2012 ballot. Check out other stories here.

State Revenues Beat Projections in November; Guv Threatens More Cuts if His Initiative Fails

The latest cash update from State Controller John Chiang did have some good news: the state’s revenues during the month of November were $497.7 million above projections outlined in the state budget. That being said, Chiang was quick to point out that total year-to-date general fund revenues are still behind the budget's estimates by $1 billion.

The Controller commented the following: “While November's totals came in 9 percent above projections, they did not erase the fact that we are still running $1 billion behind in revenues and $2 billion ahead in expenditures. Regardless of whether midyear cuts are enacted next week, the Legislature faces a tremendous fiscal challenge when it returns to session next month."

The combined current year cash deficit stands at $21.5 billion and the State ended last fiscal year with a cash deficit of $8.2 billion. For the month of November, it was primarily income tax revenues that helped boost revenues above projections, as the state took in $531.4 million, or 19.6 percent, more than expected.

Read the Controller’s November financial statement here. Summary analysis can be found here.

You’ll recall that budget figures are particularly important this December because the Department of Finance will release its report to determine how much the state has to cut. The Bee reports on the following important point about November’s figures:

“The Legislative Analyst Office's Jason Sisney said the strong November income tax figures were largely due to fewer refunds paid out rather than improvements in the economy. If so, the November total doesn't necessarily foretell greater revenue for California through the rest of the fiscal year, which means the state may still be on track for a significant round of midyear cuts.”

In other budget news, while midyear cuts appear likely, the state could face another round of automatic cuts if the governor doesn’t get his way, according to the administration. Brown recently launched an initiative that would raise taxes and the governor has said if voters reject it, then the state should prepare for even more cuts to address the shortfall. The governor commented, “We’re going to balance the budget. We’ll propose cuts and the taxes, and if the taxes don’t materialize, I will propose we have trigger cuts that go into effect immediately.”

Republicans have criticized the governor’s threat and suggested he is holding taxpayers hostage.

Deciphering Trends: NYT Argues Public Sector Workers are Retiring Sooner

Are older public sector employees speeding up their retirement plans in light of cutbacks and pension criticism? The New York Times argues in a recent (and lengthy) article that older workers simply feel they have little reason to stick around anymore as budget woes continue to take their toll at the state and local level and many workers say they don’t want to be scapegoats. California is pointed to as a prime example and it is reported that CalPERS has experienced an increasing retirement rate over the last five fiscal years. The Times notes:

“But increasingly workers fear a permanent shift away from the traditional security of government jobs, and they are making plans to get out now, before salaries and retirement benefits retreat further.”

While many governments have benefited from shedding workers through cost-savings, others have found themselves not only short on staff members but also short on expertise and valuable knowledge possessed by older workers.

Nevertheless, some experts contend it’s far too early to conclude that the nation is experiencing any trend with respect to public sector retirement and some data indicates rates have stayed relatively stable. Furthermore, one has to take into the account the recession, as many workers have even delayed retirement due to the poor economy and hesitance to move.

Public Sector, Inc., which is affiliated with the Manhattan Institute, has criticized the New York Times article in a post that reads: “The two surveys cited in the piece show that while some workers are speeding up their retirement, many are choosing to delay it. And in 2008, when the recession first hit, many workers decided to stay put for a few more years. Second, aside from a few anecdotal quotes, there is little to suggest that the primary cause for most workers is displeasure with states' requiring more furlough days, salary freezes, and greater contributions to pension and health benefits.” Read more of the outfit’s criticisms here.

No Surrender: Arizona’s Infamous Sheriff Joe Faces Calls for His Resignation

The infamous “Sheriff Joe,” also known as Joe Arpaio, is facing calls for his resignation down in Maricopa County, Arizona. The local official is known nationally thanks to his tough stance on illegal immigration and has deemed himself "America's Toughest Sheriff."

The national media figure is no stranger to scrutiny and criticism, as he once built tent cities for inmates, instituted chain gangs, and made prisoners wear pink underwear.

So what’s the latest controversy around Arpaio? TPM reports there “are allegations by current and former law enforcement officials that he botched over 400 sex crime cases.” In response, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) called on the sheriff to resign from his position.

In what isn’t exactly the most mature response, Arapio countered that Grijalva was the one who should resign and that he’s only criticizing the sheriff due to his immigration policies (sort of the equivalent of the standard schoolyard tactic of saying “I know you are but what am I”).

The Sheriff’s Department has reinvestigated many cases to address concerns about dropping the ball on serious cases, such as child molestation. Read more here. 

Oops: Patient Privacy Breach in Contra Costa as County Warns Patients

Back in 2010, a report to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors mistakenly included the names of thousands of patients who owed money to the county’s health department. The county only just realized the public document included the names, thereby violating patient privacy rights since it was posted online. In response, the names have now been redacted and notices were mailed out to the patients; notably, no medical information was published in the report. The list was generated by the former department of Office of Revenue Collection and consists of patients who were relieved of medical debt last year by county supervisors. The county reports the following:

“The disclosure came to light last week, and was immediately reported to the California Department of Public Health, and an internal investigation was launched. […] The County Administrator’s Office and Health Services have reviewed their processes to ensure this won’t happen in the future, and remains fully committed to upholding patient privacy.”

Notably, the County Office of Revenue Collection, which was formerly used by Contra Costa Health Services to collect delinquent hospital accounts, has been dissolved and no longer exists.

You can read the county’s letter to patients here.

Guv Launches Tax Hike Initiative as Taxpayer Groups Counter w/ Spending-Cap Proposal

This week Governor Brown officially announced the launch of his proposal to raise taxes with the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012, as the initiative has now been officially filed with the Attorney General's Office. You’ll recall that the measure would raise $7 billion annually by taxing the rich and hiking the sales tax by half a cent (and both of these tax hikes would expire at the end of 2016).

The text of the measure emphasizes repeatedly that funding will support education as well as realignment, i.e. public safety. The measure states, “This measure gives constitutional protection to the shift of local public safety programs from state to local control and the shift of state revenues to local government to pay for those programs. It guarantees that schools are not harmed by providing even more funding than schools would have received without the shift.”

To corral support around this initiative, the governor also released “An Open Letter to the People of California.” The letter states: “The stark truth is that without new tax revenues, we will have no other choice but to make deeper and more damaging cuts to schools, universities, public safety, and our courts.” The governor also explains that he is resorting to an initiative because he does not want to get bogged down by partisan gridlock and that the stakes are too high.  You can read the full letter here.

And in response to the governor’s tax proposal, the California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Small Business Action Committee have filed an initiative of their own that would cap state spending.  The Bee reports the following on the proposal:

“The proposal would reconfigure the Gann Limit, a 1979 spending restriction established on the heels of tax-limiting Proposition 13. Voters later softened the limit, and the state is now $17 billion below the spending cap. […] In years where tax revenues are greater than the limit, the state would first have to pay down debt and then divide up to $2 billion between schools and a rainy-day fund. If money is left over, the state would return money to taxpayers.”

Jon Coupal from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc. wrote the following description of the measure over at the Flash Report: “The measure will limit annual state appropriations to the prior year's level (adjusted for cost of living and population growth), require surplus revenue to first be spent on debt service and strengthen the two-thirds vote requirement for legislative passage of laws that authorize or raise new or higher taxes. The measure will give voters the choice they deserve. I firmly believe voters want Sacramento to prioritize spending and live within our means – once and for all.”

Slow Growth: Report Says St’s Population Increased by Less than One Percent; County Figures

It’s been another year of slow population growth in the state of California, as much like other years, more residents left the state than those who arrived. The Department of Finance released a new report that shows the state's population grew by just .7 percent in the last year, making it one of the slowest rates in California’s history. The state now has 37.5 million residents, which is an addition of 260,000 new residents. Fewer births, fewer immigrations, and residents fleeing for greener grass are all contributing factors and experts say the state has not experienced healthy growth since 2003. Out of the state's 58 counties, 18 saw a decline in population. That being said, it is still believed that California will reach 40 million residents by 2020. So which county saw the fastest growth? Riverside. The following highlights were released regarding county population figures:

• The state’s nine largest counties, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento and Contra Costa each have over one million residents. They are home to 70 percent of Californians.
• Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties posted the highest numeric population gains and account for over half of the state's growth. Growth in these counties was primarily due to natural increase. Los Angeles County experienced net out-migration.
• Riverside, Imperial, Placer, Tulare, Santa Clara, and San Bernardino counties had the largest percentage increases in population, each growing more than one percent. Population change ranged from the highest growth rate of 1.59 percent in Riverside to a negative 3.31 percent in Alpine.
• Natural increase was the primary source of growth in the state and for 37 of the counties that had population growth. Eleven counties experienced natural decrease (more deaths than births during the year) – Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Lake, Mariposa, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Tuolumne
• Like the state, two-thirds of the counties experienced net out-migration (more people moving out of the county than moving in).
• Twenty counties had a higher growth rate than the state, another 20 had a lower growth rate, while the remaining 18 posted declines

You can find additional county ranking tables, maps, and data at the Department of Finance’s website here.

Taking the Pledge: Anti-Tax Pledge to Target CA Officials; Follows Norquist’s Efforts

If you paid any attention to squabbling over the failures of the super committee at the nation’s capitol, then you’re sure to be familiar with the name of Grover Norquist and his outfit Americans for Tax Reform. Norquist has been criticized for the influence he holds over Congressional Republicans due to a pledge he circulated that promises no tax hikes under any circumstances. While the impact of the anti-tax campaigner on budget negotiations has been subject to much debate, it would seem similar tax pledges have taken inspiration from Norquist’s efforts, as other pledges have sprung up around the country, including California. Specifically, an organization named Stop Taxing Us, which is based in the city of Carlsbad, has launched a new taxpayer pledge entitled “The Promise to California Taxpayers.” Assembly District candidates have already signed, as has San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, who is a candidate for mayor. Brian Brady, a director with Stop Taxing Us, called the pledge a tool for voters to pressure officials at all levels of government, and he commented the following:

“We intend to solicit as many California lawmakers, from a local mosquito abatement board on up to governor. Stop Taxing Us intends to be a clearinghouse for those groups and compile which lawmakers sign the promise and which lawmakers decline to sign the promise.”

The four-point pledge reads as follows:

“ONE: oppose any and all efforts to increase marginal tax rates for individuals and/or businesses, and
TWO: oppose any and all efforts to amend and/or repeal Proposition 13, and
THREE: oppose any and all efforts to increase the taxpayers’ contribution, to public employee pension plans, and
FOUR: oppose any and all net reduction and/or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

This particular pledge reportedly goes further than the pledge from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. In addition, it takes language from the pledge circulated by Grover Norquist.

Crime Watch: Merced and Monterey County Ranked #1 for Highest Homicide Rate

Merced and Monterey County have been ranked with the highest homicide rate in the state of California, according to a new report from the Department of Justice. Both counties have a homicide rate of 10 per 100,000 residents from 2009 to 2010. Only the 35 most populous counties were considered for the rankings, and for the second year in a row Monterey topped the list. Gang activity in particular is to blame for Monterey’s murder rate, and the city of Salinas is where almost half of the homicides occurred. In Merced, homicides rose by 27 percent in 2010 and gang-related crime is also to blame.

However, there is good news overall, as the state as a whole saw its homicide rate fall to its lowest level in more than four decades; in fact, the rate fell by nearly 8 percent. Other highlights from the Department of Justice report are as follows:

• “80.3 percent of homicide victims were male, 19.7 percent were female.
• 44.5 percent of homicide victims were Hispanic, 29.6 percent were black, 18.2 percent were white, and 7.4 percent were categorized as "other."
• Females were more likely to be killed in their residence, while males were more likely to be killed on streets or sidewalks.
• When the victim-offender relationship was identified, 44.4 percent (the largest proportion) involved victims who were killed by friends or acquaintances. However a greater percentage of black victims were killed by strangers than were white or Hispanic victims (47.7 vs. 25.4 and 35.4, respectively).
• Of homicides where the weapon was identified, the majority (71.2 percent) involved a firearm.
• Of the homicides where the contributing circumstances were known, 36.1 percent were gang-related.”

Placer County was ranked with the lowest homicide rate at .6 per 100,000 residents. News coverage on the rankings can be seen here:

CA’s Direct Democracy Lampooned by the Daily Show

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart poked fun of California and its system of direct democracy in a recent segment. California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton was interviewed for the feature and his comments alone make the video worth your time due to their amusingly colorful nature (let’s just say quite a few f-bombs were dropped). The title of the segment is “California’s Direct Democracy Troubles” and you can watch it below:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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