The budget includes what even its authors have acknowledged were $4 billion in revenue projections based mostly on hope. But it also includes mid-year trigger cuts in case those projections fall short. Last month, the non-partisan legislative analyst's office said only a fraction of those extra $4 billion would come in. This week, the governor's Department of Finance will release its forecast. Spokesman H.D. Palmer:
Palmer: "And it will be either ours or the legislative analyst's - the higher of the two - that will be the yardstick by which we determine what level of triggered cuts are going to go into effect starting on January 1st."
The mid-year cuts include additional reductions to higher education and the elimination of up to seven school days for K-12 students. Also: deeper cuts to in-home supportive services and the Department of Developmental Services.
