Community Commentary:

Recently, the legislature passed a revised 2009-10 budget that contains $23 billion worth of spending reductions and puts California one step closer to living within its means — without raising taxes.

I am not pleased that Sacramento’s spending addiction was so out of control that it took $15 billion of deep budget cuts to get our state back on the right track. The budget that we passed contains billions of dollars in spending cuts that covered virtually every general fund obligation program, many of which will affect honest Californians truly in need. While these cuts were the only real solution to relieving our budget deficit, I lament the level of overspending and profound lack of prioritization that led to the necessity of these cuts.

California has always taken in enough revenue to fund government’s highest priorities, like public safety, education, health, infrastructure and an adequate water supply.

Many of the budget cuts would not have been necessary had the legislature properly prioritized and allocated its revenue over the last several years. Instead, state spending increased by $41 billion in the last four years alone, in which time the legislature spent wildly on new programs and services that it couldn’t afford or sustain. For years, actual revenue has fallen below the estimates by which the Legislature justifies its spending, and it has turned to the taxpayer to make up the difference.

My Republican colleagues and I held the line against tax increases, but the budget passed last week still falls short in terms of real solutions. I opposed seizing billions in funds from local governments, which would have had to cut services or raise taxes in their own jurisdictions to balance their budgets.

I opposed paying state workers on July 1 instead of June 30 next year, pushing the problem into the next fiscal year and the next budget cycle. I also opposed increasing the income tax withholding, which amounts to holding hardworking Californians’ money hostage. These accounting gimmicks and one-time solutions will only push the budget problem down the road further.

Unfortunately, the budget passed last week is not a permanent fix. The legislature did not address the entire deficit, forcing the governor to use his “blue-pencil” and make additional cuts. My hope is that he does so judiciously.

The worst-kept secret in Sacramento is that further cuts will need to be made in coming months to offset dwindling revenues and ensure that government’s highest priorities continue to receive funding. The elimination of wasteful spending and unnecessary bureaucracy, coupled with genuine government reform, will ensure that California’s best days lie ahead.

Assemblyman JIM SILVA represents District 67.