SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- On May 19th, Californians will vote on six ballot initiatives designed to patch up the budget holes, but it appears those initiatives are not catching on with voters.
KCBS’ Margie Shafer Reports
Propositions 1A through 1F resulted from the budget deal reached in February by state lawmakers. The measures propose funding for education, children's services, mental health and a rainy day fund. If they don't pass more drastic cuts will need to be made.
According to a new survey USA poll, sponsored by CBS5, none of the measures has even 50 percent support, and a large percentage of voters, more than 20 percent in all cases, is undecided.
California could be staring at a $6 billion budget shortfall in less than a month if these measures don't pass. Political analyst Leo McElroy notes, unlike the federal government, the state cannot print money to deal with the shortfall.
"The United States can't go bankrupt as a government because they can print money," said McElroy. "But the state of California doesn't have that option, and at this point it's going to be either cut services drastically, or throw up their hands and say, 'you know what, we can't run this state anymore.'"
No state has ever declared bankruptcy.
(MGO)
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