Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
As a new $21 billion dollar state deficit looms, I urge you to develop, implement and support structural reforms to address our immediate crisis and provide a long term solution for future generations.
- ELIMINATE STATE AGENCIES WITH DUPLICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
Along with consolidating the Franchise Tax Board and the Board of Equalization, there are other State agencies that need to be eliminated or consolidated. In Los Angeles County, the Economy and Efficiency Commission I initiated consolidated departments’ and agencies with duplicative missions and the Quality and Productivity Commission has saved County taxpayers over $3 billion by streamlining programs and services.
- A 2-YEAR BUDGET
This would enable school boards, county governments and city governments to have a consistent funding stream to prepare its own financial agenda for public safety, schools, libraries and parks.
- A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE
To bring a sense of reality to the legislative process, allow citizen lawmakers to contribute valuable professional experience to the legislative process and reduce the high costs of excessive legislation.
- REPEAL TERM LIMITS
Term limits have promoted instability and an inexperienced legislature.
- REFORM CIVIL SERVICE
We need to bring our Civil service system into the 21st Century.
In addition to the immediate implementation of these vital reforms, I urge you to reject the call of those who want to tax and borrow California into bankruptcy. Instead, borrow a page from Nevada’s successful playbook and make overtures to business to stay and relocate back to California with business-friendly incentives including reduced taxes and regulation and an innovative marketing campaign. (See enclosed ads.) This will stimulate enterprise and competition, new jobs will flood the marketplace and a broad base of revenue will expand to fill state coffers and lead to economic recovery and growth.
Best regards,
MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH
Supervisor