Capitol Alert

One of the most common questions in our budget online chat yesterday had to do with the budget special election.Gov. Jerry Brown originally called for an early June election, but that became impossible once talks ended in March. Here's where various players stand on the election issue at the moment:

Brown: Wants a special election as soon as possible, which realistically means September if the Legislature agrees on a budget by June. To balance the budget until an election, he wants lawmakers to extend sales and vehicle taxes from July 1 until the election. He backed off his original call for a retroactive extension of an income tax surcharge for 2011, though he still wants a smaller dependent tax credit.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento: Wants to balance the 2011-12 budget by having the Legislature approve a one-year extension in taxes. Wants the electorate to vote on extending the taxes for four more years some time in 2012.

Assembly Republican Caucus: Opposes tax extensions and opposes an election, other than one on pension reductions and a spending cap. Issued a plan that relies on cuts such as a 10 percent reduction in state worker compensation and taking funds from First 5 and mental-health programs, as well as Brown's projection of unexpected tax revenues.

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-Los Angeles: Believes the Legislature should approve taxes on its own, but says he is open to a "ratification" by voters at some later date.

Voters: The most recent public polls show broad support for an election, though that doesn't translate into broad support for taxes. This includes Republicans who say they want a special election so they can vote against the taxes.

Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor: Recommends that lawmakers, if they decide they need voter approval, wait to hold a special election until late in the 2011-12 fiscal year to avoid funding disruptions for schools and local governments.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer: Says that if lawmakers agree to a special election, they will also need to enact spending cuts that would be "triggered" if voters reject taxes at the ballot. Without such cuts, he says the state will not be able to pursue its normal $10 billion in short-term borrowing to pay bills.

Credit rating agencies: Say that if a mid-year election is part of the solution, the state needs to approve "trigger" cuts ahead of time that will take effect if voters reject the taxes. Otherwise, the state will face complications in paying its bills.

California Teachers Association: Wants the Legislature to approve tax extensions in the Capitol without going to the electorate. Says a tax election and possible mid-year cut would be disruptive to schools.

SEIU California: Wants the Legislature to approve tax extensions in the Capitol without going to the electorate. David Kieffer, head of SEIU California, says, "It's irresponsible for everyone to come together to find a solution to get the budget done and then put everything at risk by having an election."

California State Association of Counties: Sent Brown a letter Tuesday calling for an election as soon as possible so counties can have guaranteed funding under the governor's plan to transfer state responsibilities.

Americans for Tax Reform: Says a vote to place taxes on the ballot would violate its anti-tax pledge signed by all but two GOP lawmakers. The group's director of state affairs, Patrick M. Gleason, called placing a tax measure on the ballot "an assist in the effort to raise taxes."