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Will the State's $24 Billion Budget Deficit be Fixed Today?

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Photo by Willem van Bergen via Flickr

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Today, the Legislature is expected to vote to close the State's $24 billion budget deficit with measures that include taking $57 million in gas tax money from the City of Los Angeles. If that were to happen, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the city could lose 800 street maintenance positions through those revenues. Yes, street maintenance, one of the most complained about aspects of Los Angeles. Although the Democratic plan is expected to reduce $23.2 billion of the deficit, about $7.2 billion are said to be gimmicky bookkeeping maneuvers that "are one-time fixes, are sure to be challenged in court or are grounded in rosy assumptions that the Legislature's own fiscal advisors say are unlikely to materialize," finds the LA Times.

Previously: The Fate of State Parks to be Determined

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