Proposition 31 is designed to establish two-year state budgets and set rules for offsetting expenditures amounting to more than $25 million. While the proposition aims to keep government accountable for its spending, we at the Daily 49er think it’s a half-baked idea.
If Prop. 31 passes, all expenditures authorized by the state that exceed $25 million will have to be offset by either tax raises or spending cuts. This would likely result in confusion among the state’s legislators. It is already hard enough for state politicians to agree on financial matters, because tax hikes and spending cuts are equally unpopular. Choosing between the two would be an extremely difficult decision.
In addition to creating more obstacles in terms of state spending, Prop. 31 does not address what would occur if the state had a surplus. Under Prop. 31, if the state has a budget surplus, it must still offset revenue. Offsetting revenue when a state has a surplus is not always necessary.
It is for these reasons that the Daily 49er does not support Prop. 31. The measure is flawed, and it would result in even more deadlock and fail to address many other concerns.
