Calif. Budget Falls Prey to Housing Crisis

Governator orders across-the-board cuts as deficit nears $10B
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 6, 2007 9:26 AM CST
Calif. Budget Falls Prey to Housing Crisis
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes remarks at a news briefing in this Oct. 30, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)   (Associated Press)

With the housing crisis laying waste to California’s coffers, Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday ordered all state agencies to cut budgets by 10%, the LA Times reports. “We are among a handful of states that has a lot of exposure to the housing crash,” said an economist. Property, sales, and income taxes are all down, threatening to balloon the deficit to $10 billion.

Income tax dependency and high spending have made California vulnerable to economic downturns. The state planned to make billions from increased property taxes and the sale of a state-owned educational lender, bets that have gone sour. “We never fixed the problem," said one economist. “It's been Scotch tape and glue and staples and just praying we will never have to face reality.” (More California stories.)

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