If you remember, that’s the combined amount of state windfall income along with a huge chunk of federal stimulus funds proposed mostly for one-time spending in California. An effort of this scale has never been attempted, making this year’s budget historic in size and sweep. The vast and sprawling array of programs and initiatives will require dozens of legislative bills, and so-called budget trailer bills were also approved in the last several weeks. That just starts the process, with many more to come. Apparently, the task of negotiation, deal-making, and setting agreements in legal language will continue throughout the summer as legislative budget staff labor to scale a daunting Mt. Everest of program imperatives. It’s a massive effort to describe and legally authorize new spending programs and account for every penny, $100 billion pennies worth!
