California state budget (2008-2009)

Note: This article was last updated in 2009. Click here for more recent information on state budgets and finances.

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Governor Scharzennegger signed a plan in February 2009 that he drafted along with legislative leaders to reduce the $41 billion gap in funding for the state budget. The plan came to a total of $41.6 billion.

The plan included:

• $30.3 billion to balance the 2009-10 budget
• $11.3 billion to close the gap for the 2008-2009 budget
• $14.9 billion in spending reduction
• $12.5 billion in increased revenues
• $7.9 billion in federal funding from the President's stimulus bill
• $5.4 billion in new borrowing
• The governor vetoed $1.3 billion in total spending
• $134.4 million in internal borrowing from several special funds
• An anticipated $5 billion from the sale of bonds backed by the State Lottery; contingent on the passage of Proposition 1C, one of the ballot measures citizens of California voted for on May 19, 2009.

Budget figures, 2000-2009

The following table provides a history of California's budgeted and actual expenditures from the General Fund.

Fiscal year	General Fund budgeted	General Fund actual	Change (%)
2000-2001	$78,815,938,057	$78,052,900,000	n/a
2001-2002	$78,763,416,398	$76,751,700,000	(2)%
2002-2003	$76,721,738,911	$77,482,100,000	1%
2003-2004	$71,136,964,450	$78,345,200,000	1%
2004-2005	$78,681,001,033	$79,804,000,000	2%
2005-2006	$90,025,959,859	$91,591,500,000	15%
2006-2007	$101,260,997,500	$101,413,000,000	11%
2007-2008	$102,258,193,000	n/a*	n/a
2008-2009	$103,400,760,000	n/a*	n/a

• NOTE: Actual expenditure data was not yet available for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 at the time this data was compiled.

Budget spending

As of 2009, over the preceding 10 years, state spending from state sources had more than doubled in nominal terms (not adjusted for inflation), and during the governor's tenure state spending from state sources had risen almost 40 percent.

California spending, years in comparison

	FY 1997-1998	FY 2003-2004	FY 2007-2008
State spending	$68.5 billion	$104.2 billion	$144.8 billion
Federal money	$31.6 billion	$52.5 billion	$59.5 billion

NOTE: California's legislators have declined to put details of the state's spending online.

Ballot measures

See also: California 2009 ballot propositions

The budget solution included six ballot measures that were voted on in May 2009. However, any tax and spending plans that alter previous ballot propositions could only be implemented if the state's voters agreed.

On May 19, one measure was approved and five measures were defeated. Proposition 1F eliminated salary increases for state officers in years with a projected budget deficit.

Constitutional amendments

Proposition 1F amended the constitution to eliminate salary increases for government officials. Another measure, the Senate Constitutional Amendment 4, would have adopted a system in which all candidates of every party running for a state or congressional office would be listed on a single ballot in a primary election. This is called an "open primary" system, and was slated to be on the June 2010 ballot in California.

Proposition 1A also amends the constitution.

See also

• California state budget and finances

Budget links

• 2008-2009 California Budget
• California Department of Finance
• The Legislative Analyst's Office
• California Budget Frequently Asked Questions
• Amendments to the Budget Act of 2009