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As California wrestles with attempting to close an estimated $25.5 billion budget gap, voters seem hopelessly ignorant of the real culprit of the State’s disastrous economic condition. In January 2010, San Francisco-based think tank Public Policy Institute conducted a scientific poll representing California voters’ political affiliation of approximately, 44% of registered Democrat, 30% Republicans and the remainder declining to state or independent.  

Here is the question rendered by the pollster:   

I am going to name some of the largest areas for State spending. Please tell me the one that represents the most spending in the State budget.  (1) K-12 Education, (2) higher education, (3) health and human services, (4) prisons and corrections, (5) don’t know.  

Here was the breakdown of what the voter believed: 

K-12 Education 16%

Higher education 5%

Health and Human Services 24% 

Prisons and Corrections 49% 

Don’t know 6% 

The same follow-up question was asked in January 2011, and 60% of those polled thought Department of Corrections was the most costly of all State expenditures.  

This ignorance is stunning, if not sobering.  

Here are the real figures as provided by the California State Department of

Finance, Office of the Budget, for 2011-12, when approved by the Assembly and Senate and signed by Governor Brown. 

The total State funds allocation is    $127.3 billion. 

K-12 Education proposed budget      $ 37.6 billion or 29% of the budget

Health and Human services                  $ 35.8 billion or 28% of the budget

Business, Transportation, and Housing  $ 12.7 billion or 10% of the budget

Higher Education including all University of California, State University and community colleges                            $ 10.5 billion or    8% of the budget

Corrections and Rehabilitation    $  9.1 billion or     7% of the budget 

Over two-thirds of the California State budget lies in three areas, K-12 Education, Health and Human Services, and Higher Education…yet the majority of voters incorrectly believe the State department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is the major culprit for our budget woes. 

Indeed, when 5th District Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich stated Los Angeles County taxpayers dole out over $1.6 billion annually to illegal aliens and their and their native born children, he was stating a truth most Californians didn’t want to hear…The cost of illegal immigration is staggering. According to Santa Barbara based Californians for Population Stabilization, the real cost of illegal immigration for the 58 counties in California is $14 billion per year and growing.    

I bring these daunting statistics to your attention not to draw your ire or be attacked as the messenger of this intelligence. I deliver this information to keep you informed and abreast of the fiscal crisis and its root cause.  

Let’s stop blaming Department of Corrections for California’s out of control budget.

When you, the voter, is better informed, you can communicate with your elected official in a clear, cogent manner, devoid of drama and emotion.  I urge you to call your Assembly member, State senator, and Governor Brown and register your clear understanding of the budget mess. 

Roger Gitlin- Commentary  

Roger Gitlin is a retired teacher and resident of Crescent City, California, FOUNDER of the santa clarita valley Independent minutemen and proud member of the National Tea Party. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon. He can be reached at [email protected]