Voters in the dark on state's finances. Are you?

Poll finds only a small percentage could identify state’s largest spending item and largest source of revenue

About this series


Test your state budget knowledge

1. What is the biggest program?

a) Health and human services

b) Higher education

c) K-12 education

d) Prisons

2. What is the biggest revenue source?

a) Corporate income tax

b) Personal income tax

c) Sales tax

d) Motor vehicle fees

3. Which area of government is projected to grow the most in the next 20 to 30 years?

a) K-12 education

b) Medi-Cal

c) Corrections

4. Which government employees, on average, are paid the least in salary and benefits combined?

a) Local

b) State

c) Federal

5. Which major state-funded program has had the largest percentage reduction in the last three years?

a) Corrections

b) Health and human services

c) K-12 education

6. Of the states with the largest budget shortfalls, as a percent of revenue, which state has the smallest shortfall?

a) California

b) Illinois

c) Nevada

d) Texas

7. Is the $127 billion in all state funds that Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing in his budget more or less than what he spent in his last year the first time he was governor, after adjusting for growth in population and inflation?

a) 48% more

b) 21% more

c) About the same

d) 17% less

8. What percent is California’s deficit of the state’s total economy?

a) 83.9%

b) 47.7%

c) 18.6%

d) 1.3%

9. Does the state of California have a rainy-day fund?

a) Yes

b) No

10. In 2010-11, California state government spent $8.72 per $100 of state personal income. How much did the state spend in 1980-81?

a) $5.24

b) $11.67

c) $8.63

d) $3.07

11. In 2009-10, what percentage of funding for K-12 schools was from local property taxes?

a) 86%

b) 56%

c) 30%

12. What portion of our mass transit systems is paid for by the riders who use the systems?

a) Less than 10%

b) Around 20%

c) More than 75%


1. c): K-12 education costs $36 billion. Other categories: Health and human services, $26 billion; higher education, $11 billion and prisons, $9 billion.

2. b): Personal income tax brings the state $47 billion. Other categories: Sales and use tax, $26 billion; corporate income tax, $11 billion; motor vehicle fees, $1.5 billion.

3. b): Medi-Cal

4. b): State

5. c): K-12 education

6. a) California

7. b) 21% more

8. d) 1.3%

9. a) Yes

10. c) $8.63

11. c) 30%

12. b) Around 20%

Source: Next10

Take Next10's California Budget Challenge

Try your hand at solving California’s budget woes with the latest version of the simulation game, which includes new policy options involving realignment, redevelopment, and community colleges.

— Gov. Jerry Brown wants California voters to weigh in by June on his plan to balance the budget. But the voters, polls show, know next to nothing about the state’s finances, and much of what they think they know is wrong.


