Non-partisan Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor sums up his take on Governor Brown's proposal to close the 25 billion dollar budget gap like this:
"Our basic conclusion is that the Governor's proposal is a very good starting point for the legislature."
Taylor approves of Brown's push to shift more program responsibility to local governments. And he says the spending plan involves fewer gimmicks and more on-going solutions, such as billions in cuts and a five-year extension of tax increases.
"I think it is a more straightforward budget, but in saying that I don't want people to think that there are no risks in the budget."
Taylor says those include potential legal issues with Brown's
proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies - and the possibility
that voters will reject the Governor's proposed tax
extension. Taylor says if that happens, the result could be
"brutal."