Budgets

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SACRAMENTO - A proposal to revamp the way California handles its budget and web of state regulations is running into opposition from politicians, unions and various activists who say it would only worsen Sacramento's dysfunction. The wonky measure, Proposition 31, could have far-reaching effects on state government. California Forward, the nonpartisan organization behind the initiative, says its provisions would increase transparency and accountability in a Capitol not known for either.

Ham-fisted yet pandering, and fiscally irresponsible too, AB 114 perpetrates an abuse of state power that could wreak budgetary havoc in local school districts. But in that case, why hasn't the news been filled with details of this bad-government bill as it wended its way through the Legislature? Because it was hurriedly and secretively passed, quite literally in the dark of night, with no committee hearings and almost no public notice, and then quickly signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

America's nonprofit theaters are feeling a bit better about their finances these days, according to a recent survey conducted by the sector's main national service organization, Theatre Communications Group. But the actors, directors and designers who work in those theaters shouldn't bank on a trickle-down effect boosting their standard of living. Asked to list their top five priorities for the coming year, only 19% of the 206 theaters surveyed by TCG and its partner, the Assn.

Regarding the school bus lights law ("The Danger Presented by Lack of Visibility"): It doesn't seem necessary to propound on this subject with several thousand words for it to be understood. Simply put, educate the children with an unbreakable rule. Remain on the curb until the bus has proceeded at least one-half block or farther before crossing the street--at the green light or designated crosswalk. Also, if it is a hazardous area, employ more crossing guards, budgets or no budgets.

Los Angeles-based Unocal named three new corporate vice presidents: Neal E. Schmale, budgets, planning and economics; Darcel L. Hulse, corporate engineering and construction, and E. William Cole Jr., head of the company's Washington office. Additionally, Claude S. Brinegar, 59, executive vice president-administration, was appointed chief financial officer, replacing Philip Blamey, who retired.

If your salary is good, and pay raises come with regularity, you probably owe it to the county's high cost of housing and low unemployment rate. Those are the factors that cause local companies to fork over better-than-average pay raises to executives. County firms are in the top quarter of U.S. companies in the amount they budget for merit raises--annual performance-based pay increases. A recent study by TPF&C, a worldwide personnel consulting firm, has surveyed budgets for merit raises set aside by 1,500 companies in 25 U.S. regions.

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of governors came to Washington on Tuesday to express concern to the White House and members of Congress about the potential consequences to state budgets in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations. The governors are worried about the possibility a deal may not be reached by year's end, and also that a final accord might rely on cuts to programs states are counting on to keep their own budgets balanced. While the focus in Washington is on the impasse between President Obama and congressional Republicans on the fate of Bush-era tax rates for the well-off, governors are warily tracking discussions about spending cuts as many are set to present their own budget proposals for the new year.

The holidays are months away, but already consumers are worrying about their budgets. According to a survey by Bigresearch, more than 1 in 3 consumers (36.2%) said they would spend less this holiday season than last year. Just 2.7% of consumers said they would spend more, and 26.1% plan to spend the same. (Other totals: 29.1% say it's too early to know, and 5.8% don't celebrate the season.) Among those planning to spend less, most (69.1%) said they would slash their overall budgets.

Sure, movies cost. But when are we going to stop judging films by their budgets rather than their true merits? There always has been and always will be ego projects in Hollywood. The ill-fated "Ishtar," which when viewed without bias is actually quite entertaining, was sunk not by poor quality but in part by bad press regarding its budget. The public never got a chance to like it or not; it flopped before it even came out. And what of great films with greater budgets that make a great thud?