TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

When the legislature and governor brokered a controversial budget deal back in February, much work to plug an anticipated $40 billion budget hole was still left to be done.

Voters had to approve a series of budget measures and reforms, which they'll be asked to do May 19.

Here's what a vote for, or against, each proposition will accomplish based on reports from the state's non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office -- and who locally is on what side:

PROPOSITION 1A, STATE FINANCE

Summary: Would increase the state's "rainy day" fund from 5 percent to 12.5 percent of the general fund; give the governor more power to cut spending in a crisis; trigger other legislation extending temporary increases in sales, income and vehicle taxes from two to four years.

And Proposition 1B would not be funded, even if voters pass it.

Local impact: Revenue from sales tax increase funds state programs. Sales tax rates in Kern County are 8.25 percent for all areas except Arvin and Delano, where it's 9.25 percent due to community sales tax measures.

Supports: State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield: The tax burden of rejecting Proposition 1A would be higher than the one that exists if it passes. Democrats would pass higher taxes without Republican input. At least with this deal, voters get something back.

"It was only because of the trade-off in the state budget process that the public is going to have the opportunity to place into the constitution a spending limit," Ashburn said.

Opposes: Ken Mettler of the Republican Assembly of Kern County: "It is sold as a spending cap when really it's a spending increase. We just had a tax increase. This would extend it out an additional two years. It's time for government to get their shop in order."

PROPOSITION 1B, EDUCATION FINANCE

Summary: Would require the state to pay K-14 educational institutions $9.3 billion a year starting in 2011-2012 until a debt is gone. Would be payback for paying schools less in recent years than required under Proposition 98.

Local impact: If Propositions 1A and 1B fail, the legislature would have to cut programs but the exact loss to local school districts isn't known yet.

Supports: Mark Fulmer, assistant superintendent of district administration and finance for the Kern High School District: If "the state of California's budget gets hit, the state legislature is going to have to go back and re-establish their priorities. That would mean more cuts."

Opposes: Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield: "I do believe the (1A) tax increase will hurt the economy more than the cap will fix it."

PROPOSITION 1C, CALIFORNIA STATE LOTTERY

Summary: Would allow the state to borrow $5 billion from future lottery profits. The money would have to be paid back. Lottery profit payments would be dedicated to the state general fund, not education.

Schools would be paid through other state funding. Would allow the lottery to offer more prize money if it would generate more profit.

Local impact: Millions of dollars in local school funding would not make it into the coffers of districts across Kern County.

Supports: Kern High School District Trustee Joel Heinrichs: If the proposition doesn't pass, the state would find a way to take the money from schools anyway.

"We're going to have to revisit it (the budget). It's probably millions to us," he said. "For sure there's some hit. How bad it's going to be, we don't know."

Opposes: Michael Moore of Bakersfield, who is leading a recall against Ashburn: 1C "borrows from future earnings. It's a gimmick. We continue to take from the future to pay for now."

PROPOSITION 1D, SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

Summary: Would redirect tobacco tax funds from First 5 commissions, which provide services for children ages 0-5, to California's general fund. Would make the commissions more accountable to county boards of supervisors.

Local impact: First 5 Kern, the local tobacco tax commission, would lose half its annual revenue, said interim Executive Director Larry Rhoades. in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the most recent for which information was available, First 5 Kern spent $14 million.

Supports: Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio expressed reluctant support. He said the state would simply raid more local government funds if the measure doesn't pass. But First 5 Kern is delivering critical services to children and "this couldn't come at a worse time."

Opposes: Linda Hoyle of the Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Clinic: The proposition could cut funding for critical programs like those her organization provides with help from First 5 Kern. "It's important those services continue to support children and families."

PROPOSITION 1E, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Summary: Would redirect $453 million to $460.7 million in state mental health funding from Proposition 63 over two years to California's general fund to help offset the cost of a federal mental health program.

Local impact: The local impact is unknown. If the proposition passes, the state would decide if it will backfill money local agencies would lose. If the state does not backfill, locals face severe funding shortages.

Supports: State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter: It is critical to redirect mental health funds "to fund critical children's health programs that are at risk of elimination, including health care screening, diagnosis and treatment."

Is concerned: Kern County Mental Health Director Jim Waterman has mixed feelings about the proposition. "On one hand, I certainly oppose it. It has the potential to hurt people at the local level." But seeing the budget deal fail and the state's finances gutted could do more damage.

PROPOSITION 1F, STATE OFFICER PAY

Summary: Would prevent raises for elected state officials in any year the state's general fund, in June, is at risk of ending the fiscal year in a deficit.

Supports: Nick Ortiz of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce said the May 19 proposition package is about making short-term sacrifices for long-term stability. If voters pay more for that stability, elected officials should, too.

"It seems galling that raises are being offered at all during this time. We appreciate the folks that are turning them down," he said.

Opposes: Zack Scrivner, chairman of the Kern County Republican Party Central Committee, said his group voted against Proposition 1F to keep its message to voters clear -- vote no on all the propositions.

"If you look at the fiscal benefits of 1F, they're very minor," said Scrivner, also a Bakersfield city councilman who works for Fuller. "Even though there is some merit to not giving raises in a time of financial trouble, the benefit of keeping it simple for voters was more important than a few hundred thousand dollars."