Where cuts could hurt

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sweeping state spending proposal leaves few Californians untouched, from the poor who would not receive basic dental care to parents worried whether their children will end up in larger classes. The Bee asked five Sacramento-area residents to weigh in on the governor's plan and how it would affect their lives:

'It's still hard, being as dependent as I have been'

Frank Topping, 60, is grateful for all the state assistance he's received in his life, from health care coverage to disability assistance. Now he's hoping the state won't give up on him.

Under the Schwarzenegger budget, Topping would not receive a state cost-of-living increase in his disability check. The formerly homeless man who suffered bipolar disorder also would no longer receive basic dental coverage under Medi-Cal, the state's insurance program for the poor.

And any doctor or hospital he visits would receive 10 percent less in reimbursements for accepting Medi-Cal.

The health care program had provided his last pair of dentures, which he recently lost. He said he's not eligible to receive another pair for five years and it's likely he won't if the governor's cuts go through.

"I'm very grateful for the help the programs have given me, and the county – they've been spectacular," said Topping, who was the first to graduate from Turning Point's homeless mentally ill intervention program. "But it's still hard, being as dependent as I have been."

Topping said he receives $856 from his disability check each month – his only source of income. He said it's barely enough to cover his $600-a-month rent.

Under the governor's proposal, Topping would receive a cost-of-living raise from the federal government, but the state would no longer match the increase.

Topping said he's grateful for any help.

"I don't think he cut as deeply as he was going to," Topping said. "I think he exercised compassion, which surprised me."

'I think there's a lot of waste (by the state)'

Dave Hunt may be only 39 years old, but he knows how to run a business.

The owner of Franklin Auto Body in south Sacramento, Hunt said he cannot get away with overcharging customers and neither should the state do the same to taxpayers.

"I just think throwing more money at the problem isn't the solution," Hunt said. "Here at the body shop, I can't just start arbitrarily raising prices because I'm not spending my money correctly. Whether it's from the rich, the poor, or middle class, it's not fair."

Hunt said a lot of fat can be trimmed from state bureaucracy. Money should be more efficiently used to provide basic needs for residents, such as maintaining roads, he said.

"If the state ran it like a company, then it would be run a lot different," said the Tennessee native. "Do I think they should take money from kids and old people? No, but I think there's a lot of waste, like three or four people doing the same job."

The governor deserves credit for tackling the state's fiscal problem but "he's got his hands full," Hunt said.

'We're saying we want an educated populace'

Toni Newman of Meadowview said the governor's proposal to reduce school spending by $4.7 billion over 18 months was "unreasonable."

A single mother of two children attending the John Morse Waldorf School, Newman is worried the governor's proposal to suspend Proposition 98 would mean fewer courses and bigger class sizes for her son and daughter.

She said parents of the Waldorf school already hold fundraisers to maintain special instructors at the K-8 school, which integrates the arts into its academic program. Fewer dollars means fewer resources, Newman said.

"We as Californians know how important it is to our children," said Newman. "As voters we're saying we want an educated populace. And who hurts the most is people like me and my kids."

Newman, 45, said the governor and Legislature should look for creative ways to raise taxes without overburdening working-class Californians.

About the writer:

• Call Judy Lin, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1115.