California state worker ratio second-lowest in the nation

[ZebuluniteV]

link

From the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, this comment on new U.S. Census Bureau statistics:

In 2007 California had the 2nd lowest number of full-time equivalent state government employees relative to population among all states. California had 103 state employees for every 10,000 residents while Illinois had the lowest ratio at 97.

The data suggest that at the aggregate level California is not "overstaffed" relative to caseloads in the major program areas. Indeed, a stronger case can be made that public
programs are being carried out with less staffing than in most other states.

Looking further at the pdf report linked off that page, when taking California's combined total of state and local employees in account, the difference isn't quite as dramatic, but even then California is still well below the national average. Same for K-12 education employees.

In any event, I thought that was an interesting report, and certainly something going against common stereotypes of California.

 

[techs]

A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

 

[Infohawk]

How do most states calculate property taxes?

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

Which part of "big part" did you confuse with "all"?

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

Which part of "big part" did you confuse with "all"?

Less than half of it.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/15.html

Estimated at 10.5% of income, California's state/local tax burden percentage stands at 6th highest nationally, above the national average of 9.7%. Californians pay $5,028 per capita in state and local taxes.

And that's with the 11th highest per capita income as of 2006 ( http://www.bea.gov/newsrelease...l/spi/2007/spi0307.htm ) and the 13th highest median household income as of 2007 ( http://www.statehealthfacts.or...yr=89&typ=4&sort=n&o=d )

State spending per household is 6th in the country ( http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/287.html )

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/15.html

Estimated at 10.5% of income, California's state/local tax burden percentage stands at 6th highest nationally, above the national average of 9.7%. Californians pay $5,028 per capita in state and local taxes.

And that's with the 11th highest per capita income as of 2006 ( http://www.bea.gov/newsrelease...l/spi/2007/spi0307.htm ) and the 13th highest median household income as of 2007 ( http://www.statehealthfacts.or...yr=89&typ=4&sort=n&o=d )

State spending per household is 6th in the country ( http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/287.html )

How can you not see that your very post proves my point?
It takes a certain amount of money to run a state. California may spend more than many states per capita, and also based on income, but they are still in the ballpark with the other states. And are just about even when you drop out the lowest, no taxes, no services states that don't have the huge infrastructure that is required of states with large cities.

The problem is that the local taxes are now making up for the lack of state money. That has splintered the services, taxes of the state by locality. It has also been detrimental to larger state supported services that have lost the efficiencies of size.
Because California cannot change its income tax rate, nor property tax rate, other taxes have to be adjusted instead. This means non-progressive taxes that hurt lower income people. You basically have two Californias, very rich or very poor.
So when the state hits a bump, like many states just did, California has limited areas where it can increase revenue. Which is one of the reasons they are in trouble today.

It was Warren Buffet, iirc, who said it was crazy he paid less property tax on a 12 million dollar home in California than he did on a 2 million dollar house in Colorado.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, screw people who bought houses way back when to live in when their property prices go up (outside of their control) and have to pay a lot of $$$. :disgust:

 

[First]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: techs
A big part of California's budget problems are due to Proposition 13 which fixed the property tax and required all other tax increases to require a two thirds vote in the legislature.

Yeah, there are no problems with spending. Just a lack of tax revenue.

Not like you could suggest real world deductions that would make a difference.