SACRAMENTO \u2014 Gov. Jerry Brown released a plan to close California’s rapidly growing deficit by switching state offices to a four-day week, slashing welfare benefits and healthcare for the poor and relying on a variety of short-term fixes \u2014 all in the hopes that voters will give the state some breathing room by raising taxes in November.<\/p>\n
The governor, who unveiled his revised budget proposal in the Capitol on Monday, is facing a nearly $16-billion budget gap, far larger than the $9.2 billion he predicted in January. He warned that the deficit could grow significantly if voters reject his proposed ballot measure to raise the state sales tax and income levies on the wealthy.<\/p>\n
That would trigger additional cuts, including reductions in public education equivalent to lopping three weeks off the school year, he said.<\/p>\n
“I’m linking these serious budget reductions \u2026 with a plea to the voters: Please increase taxes temporarily,” Brown said at a morning news conference.<\/p>\n