What Impending State Insolvency Looks Like

The people of California will soon begin feeling the pinch of the state's widely publicized budgetary mess. Immediately after a series of ballot propositions that would have raised additional funds failed to pass, the Los Angeles Superior Court announced that it will initiate a one-day-a-month furlough program beginning in July. Amounting to about a 5% pay cut for its employees, the court will close on the third Wednesday of every month. The cost savings are expected to be in the range of $18 million per year.

I happened to be in court on Thursday morning and had the opportunity to engage in what must have been one of the first discussions with a judge about the scheduling quirks caused by the furlough days. The closures complicate life for everyone who uses the court system, in part because filing dates for motions and other papers may be effected, depending on whether the furlough days fall within the period of calculation. Because no published calendar shows the closed days, and because it is only LA Superior that has the furlough (for now), it is inevitable that attorneys are going to blow deadlines.

In the face of a $20 billion budget deficit, $18 million does not seem like much of a savings, but it will take measures like this from state government agencies across the board to bring California's spending into line with its revenues. It's a shame that the elected legislators have left it to their constituents to do the dirty work.