An important new report from California Common Sense outlines one reason that California’s courts are facing cutbacks: increased spending on public employee salaries and health care, especially when seen as a percentage of the state budget.
The L.A. Times has a good report, including this: “Think of the state’s proposed budget as a pie. Compared to 2007-08, the overall pie is larger, but social services, K-12, universities, courts, and other services are now smaller slices,” said a statement from Autumn Carter, the executive director of California Common Sense. “On the other hand, health care services, employee salaries, retirement benefits, and debt service are all larger slices.”
The story includes a graph that illustrates the trends. Find it here.