Kersten Communications

Kersten Communications (KC) has completed a brief report, titled “Two Schools of Academic Thought Emerge on How to Break Budget Gridlock in Sacramento,” which examines the opinions of experts at the state’s premier universities on how to break out of the budget gridlock in Sacramento.  To view the report click here.   

Another KC report, titled “Statewide Protests Target Chase Bank and Wall Street Firms, Summary Report Released with Research Support from Kersten Communications,” which summarizes why a group of community activists and labor and education leaders staged a series of protests on August 10 to call attention to a $17 billion bill itemizing the ways Wall Street banks are shortchanging California residents and state and local governments.  To view the report click here.  

A third report, titled “State General Fund Spending Has Dropped by $20 Billion Since 2006-07, Major Decreases for Every Major Program Area,” provides new KC analysis of Department of Finance data which illustrates how the three state budgets passed since 2007-08 have significantly ratcheted down state spending on major state programs such as education, higher education, and health and human services, despite the increasing needs of a growing state population.  To view the report click here.     

KC Fiscal Focus is periodic electronic newsletter that focuses on California State public policy issues from a fiscal perspective.  KC is a Sacramento-based consulting firm which specializes in public policy research and analysis.  To sign-up for KC Fiscal Focus click here.

Finally, we welcome your feedback on this newsletter and our other publications.  To submit your comments click here.

Kersten Communications (KC) has completed a brief report, titled “Summary of November 2010 Ballot Measures,” which provides of summary of the three measures that have qualified for the November 2010 statewide ballot and seven other measures that have collected the requisite number of signatures but are pending verification.  To view this summary click here.   

Another KC report, titled “New Report Finds Major Shift in Property Tax Burden From Commercial to Residential Property Since Prop. 13, Describes Loopholes In System,” summarizes a new report which was co-authored by Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the California Tax Reform Association, and David Kersten, with Kersten Communications.  To view this report click here. 

The full report, titled “System Failure: Califonria’s Loophole-Ridden Commercial Property Tax,” is available by clicking here.   

KC Blog Briefs:

“Summary of Analyses of the Governor’s May Revised Budget Proposal.”

“House and Senate Reach Compromise on ‘Job Creation’ and ‘Tax Loophole Closure’ Legislation.”

Kersten Communications (KC) has completed a brief report, titled “PG&E’s Prop. 16 Turns the 100-Year Old Initiative Process on Its Head,” which examines what is wrong with Prop. 16 and how PG&E is using the initiative process to do exactly the opposite of what it was designed to do.  To view the report click here.

Other KC Fiscal Focus Reports: 

“Ballot Measures Qualified for June and November 2010.”

“Federal Stimulus Funding Slow to be Spent in California, Other States.” 

“KC Fiscual Focus Guide to Searching for Federal Stimulus Funding in Your Community.”

Kersten Communications (KC) has completed a brief report, titled “State to Experience Mild Cash Crunch By End of March, But the Real Cash Crisis Begins in July,” which takes a look at the state’s impending cash crunch.  To view the report click here.

Other KC Fiscal Focus Reports: 

Lawmakers Budget Forum Illustrates Deep Partisan Divide, Foreshadows Budget Stalemate for 2010 and Beyond

Poll Highlights Need for Better Public Education on State Budget and Tax Issues

Want more frequent updates from KC, we now have a more frequent publication than KC Fiscal Focus–this monthly E-Newsletter.

Earlier this month, KC debuted KC Blog Blast, which provides email subscribers with up to date email blasts when significant new KC reports or blogs are released.  To subscribe, click here.  Here are some recent archives of recent updates. 

–DOF Proposes Controversial Budget Trailer Bill Language to Defer State Payments    

–Senate Democrats Introduce Jobs Bill Package

–CTA Kicks In $500,000 For Signature Drive To Repeal Corporate Tax Loopholes

KC Fiscal Focus is an electronic newsletter that focuses on California State public policy issues from a fiscal perspective.  Kersten Communications is a Sacramento-based consulting firm which specializes in public policy research and analysis.  To sign-up for KC Fiscal Focus click here. 

Finally, we welcome your feedback on this newsletter and our other publications.  To submit your comments, click here. 

Sincerely,  

Kersten Communications

Kersten Communications has completed a brief report, titled “Legislative Analyst Projects $20.7 Billion Budget Deficit for 2010-11 Budget and Beyond,” which summarizes the findings of a report released yesterday by the LAO.   

Another KC publication, titled “Flurry of Fiscal Initiatives Filed With California Attorney General’s Office for Possible Consideration on November 2010 Ballot,” summarizes a series of fiscal inititatives, and their proponents, that have been filed for the November 2010 ballot.  

Initiatives include measures that would enact a “split-roll” property tax, reform state and local finance, increase the cigarette tax, tax marijuana, call a constitutional convention, and more.  Links to the initiative texts are provided in the KC report.    

KC Fiscal Focus is an electronic newsletter that focuses on California State public policy issues from a fiscal perspective.  It is also the primary means for announcing the public release of publications by Kersten Communications–a Sacramento-based consulting firm which specializes in public policy research and analysis.  To sign-up for this newsletter click here. 

Finally, we welcome your feedback on this newsletter and our other publications.  To submit your comments, click here.