After passing the 2009-10 California state budget in February, lawmakers currently face an additional budget shortfall of $8 billion for the fiscal year, which could grow to $14 billion if ballot measures do not pass. The LAO has recommended that legislators act by no later than July to close this budget gap. The budget crisis we face is serious.  

Two days following the May 19th Special Election, nonpartisan organizations Next 10 and the New America Foundation hosted a budget briefing that gave an update on where we stand post-election and allow the audience to set their own budget priorities using instant-response clickers and Next 10's California Budget Challenge.