11-10-2010, 02:37 AM
I was curious to see how various expenditures have changed over time. Â One thing that popped out was the change in spending on prisons vs. higher education over time.
(from http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2010/edu/e...12610.aspx)
Over 25 years (from the 84-85 budget to the 09-10 budget):
- spending on higher education (the UC and CSU systems combined) decreased by about half: from 11% of the state budget to 5.7% - a total of $4.9 billion in 09-10
- spending on prisons more than doubled: from 4% to 9.5% of the state budget - a total of $8.1 billion in 09-10
I don\'t argue about the concept of excess government per se... but it is interesting to note where the \'excess\' really has grown.
- MC
P.S. More food for thought:
The skyrocketing cost of healthcare has reached the prison system as well: California spends approximately $2 billion/year on health care costs just for its prisoners (about 40% of the entire expenditure from the state for the UC and CSU systems combined). Â This works out to ~$11,600 per prisoner. Â New York, for point of reference, spends $5,757. Â Texas $2,920. Â And no - it is not clear that they are getting better care; a lawsuit in 2006 that found medical conditions so deplorable that the entire system was put under court receivership.
(from http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2010/edu/e...12610.aspx)
Over 25 years (from the 84-85 budget to the 09-10 budget):
- spending on higher education (the UC and CSU systems combined) decreased by about half: from 11% of the state budget to 5.7% - a total of $4.9 billion in 09-10
- spending on prisons more than doubled: from 4% to 9.5% of the state budget - a total of $8.1 billion in 09-10
I don\'t argue about the concept of excess government per se... but it is interesting to note where the \'excess\' really has grown.
- MC
P.S. More food for thought:
The skyrocketing cost of healthcare has reached the prison system as well: California spends approximately $2 billion/year on health care costs just for its prisoners (about 40% of the entire expenditure from the state for the UC and CSU systems combined). Â This works out to ~$11,600 per prisoner. Â New York, for point of reference, spends $5,757. Â Texas $2,920. Â And no - it is not clear that they are getting better care; a lawsuit in 2006 that found medical conditions so deplorable that the entire system was put under court receivership.