Brown proposes state budget with rosier outlook
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO -- Riding a wave of new tax revenue, Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing a state spending plan that eliminates the massive deficits of recent years and provides nearly $5 billion more in spending over the previous year.
The budget outlook shows the nation's most populous state beginning to turn the corner on an era of deep shortfalls and spending cuts to core programs.
California's persistent budget woes came to symbolize the plight of states struggling through the recession as tax revenue declined steeply, leaving governors and state legislatures around the country little choice but to consider deep cuts or unpopular tax increases.
Brown took both approaches, pushing austerity while persuading California voters last fall to approve increases to the state sales tax and higher income taxes on the wealthy.
The resulting $97.6 billion general fund budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year will send more money to public schools and universities.






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