Brown plans budget forum with lawmakers, officials

2010-12-02 14:35:00 PST Sacramento, CA 95814, United States — (12-02) 14:35 PST Sacramento, Calif. (AP) --

Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has invited state lawmakers and local government officials to a budget forum at the same time a special session of the Legislature is scheduled to be under way.

Spokesman Sterling Clifford said Brown has invited Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's finance director, Ana Matosantos, and Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor. He says the purpose is to get "everyone working from the same set of facts" surrounding the state's projected $25.4 billion shortfall over the next 18 months.

The forum will be held Wednesday at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

The meeting will come just two days after Schwarzenegger calls lawmakers back to deal with the $6 billion deficit in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Clifford said Brown's forum is intended to be the first in a series of meetings.