Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Is more money hidden in California's special funds?

Capitol Alert

The latest on California politics and government

August 3, 2012

AM Alert: Is more money hidden in California's special funds?

VIDEO: Dan Walters, in today's report, says that Gov. Jerry Brown's tax measure will be competing with a lot of local tax measures on California's November ballot.

It's the last Friday before the Legislature returns from its summer recess, and today we'll get a taste of what's to come as Finance Director Ana Matosantos and others lay out the results of the Department of Finance's review of more than 500 special funds.

Gov. Jerry Brown called for the review last month after Parks and Recreation Department officials discovered that the department has been sitting on nearly $54 million.

Is there more money hidden elsewhere? Come back later to Capitol Alert. That press briefing is scheduled for noon.

Speaking of special funds, Kevin Yamamura reports in today's Bee that California has reached deeper and deeper into them for purposes never intended -- to pay for schools, prisons and social services. The state now owes $4.3 billion to special funds.

Starting Monday, it's a four-week sprint to the end of the legislation session on Friday, Aug. 31. Other dates to remember including Friday, Aug. 17, which is the last day for fiscal committees to move bills to the floor.

Political junkies also have the Republican and Democratic national conventions to anticipate. The Republicans are up first, meeting Aug. 27-30 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more at this link. Then it's the Democrats' turn in Charlotte, N.C., from Sept. 3-6. Click here for more information.

TWITTER: The Sacramento Bee's Capitol Bureau has been keeping track of the pithy things that Gov. Jerry Brown has been saying and tweeting them out on the Twitter feed @JerryBrownSays. We've also put together a photo gallery of pics paired with those pithy sayings. Yep, even the S-word. Check it out at this link.

CAKE AND CANDLES: Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, turns 60 on Sunday.

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