California budget cuts en route, with or without proposition approval

From today's Sacramento Bee:

Schwarzenegger's budget proposals cut services,
school year, state workers

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed dire budget plans Thursday that slash core public services and push California's financial problems into future years as the state struggles to survive a historic economic downturn.

Under the governor's budget scenarios, schools could let out students five to seven days early, an oil company would drill into California waters near Santa Barbara, and low-income elderly and disabled residents would receive smaller grants.

Schwarzenegger offered two proposals Thursday – one that bridges a $15.4 billion gap if three ballot measures pass next week, and another that closes a $21.3 billion shortfall if the measures fail. The latter plan was different largely in the severity of school cuts and burdens placed on cities and counties

Read the full article at http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1863556.html.