November 12, 2009

Joan Buchanan: There's no more fat left to cut out of the budget

San Ramon, California – Democrat Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan in one sentence demonstrated why opponent Abram Wilson would be a better representative for the 15th Assembly District when she said in the Contra Costa Times on November 4, 2009  "There's no more fat left to cut out of the budget." 

Wilson, the current mayor of San Ramon, which has a balanced budget, has a different view about the state’s budget problems.  Mayor Wilson explained his success with budgeting in a recent interview with the National Review:

“When I took over San Ramon, we had a structural deficit. Now we’re one of the few cities with over a 50 percent reserve and that’s what the state should have.”

“Sunset all programs — I don’t care what the programs are, sunset them and see whether they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, see whether they’re cost-efficient. To me, that’s so important.”

Wilson is running to restore fiscal responsibility to Sacramento.  In the City of San Ramon where he has been mayor for nearly a decade, budget reserves exceed an unprecedented 50% of the city’s budget. The State of California is currently facing a $15 billion budget shortfall.

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