Wieckowski Asks Voters to Approve Tax Extensions in June

California Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski encouraged voters to approve possible tax extensions during his first public forum as an elected state official last week.

Wieckowski, a former Fremont City Council member elected to the assembly in November, led an informational discussion on the California budget last Thursday at the Union City Council Chambers. He was joined by Jean Ross, the executive director of the California Budget Project, a non-profit organization that conducts non-partisan fiscal and policy analysis.

“Things have really changed in Sacramento,” said Wieckowski, who serves the state’s 20th district, which includes all of Union City, Fremont, Newark and Milpitas, along with parts of Pleasanton, Castro Valley and San Jose.

He called Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal the first real attempt at reforming the state government. “These are real cuts,” he said.

Brown’s plan would help close a $26 billion projected deficit for the 2011-12 fiscal year through a combination of cuts, restructuring of local governments and asking voters to extend three tax increases set to expire in June.

Among the reductions are a $1.7 billion cut to Medi-Cal services; a $1.5 billion cut to CalWorks, a welfare-to-work program; $1 million to the University of California and California State University systems; and $300 million to primary education. The budget also proposes to , which would make $1.7 billion available for other expenditures.

Though Wieckwowski acknowledged redevelopment agencies’ benefit to communities, he did not take a clear stance on the situation.

Brown’s plan would hinge on voters approving a planned five-year extension of three taxes currently set to expire June 30. Wieckowski encouraged those attending the forum to lobby for and approve the extensions.

According to Ross, the extensions would generate $11.2 billion. However, the state would face significant shortfalls once they expire, she said.

“It’s important for voters to understand … and begin to have a discussion about what we want our state to look like,” said Ross, who, among other duties, previously served as a consultant to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Assembly Human Services Committee.

She made a presentation detailing the current budget situation, the governor’s plans and the road leading to the current crisis.

“You have to understand what got you into a problem in order to get out of it,” Ross said.

Ross cited multiple factors for California’s current economic state. Ross identified continued tax cuts since 1993; increased spending on corrections, debt service and transportation; and demographic changes as some of the contributing factors to California’s crisis.

The state’s population has increased by 400,000 each year in the last decade, according to Ross.

“It’s like serving another city of Oakland each year,” Ross said.

Despite California’s budget woes, Wieckowski remains hopeful the state will improve. 

“The economy is recovering,” Wieckowski said. “Maybe the most difficult times are behind us.”

The state legislature will vote on a budget deal later this month, though Brown faces opposition from Republican lawmakers.

“I’m enough of an optimist to think that we can reach a bipartisan deal to get us through this,” Wieckowski said.