CULVER CITY — Attempting to drum up support for a series of propositions on the ballot in next Tuesday’s special statewide election, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Monday with officials from across the region to discuss the California budget crisis.

In a hastily arranged meeting, Schwarzenegger urged officials to encourage their constituents to support Propositions 1A through 1F next week. Recent polling by the Public Policy Institute shows that all but 1F — which would prohibit state officials from receiving pay raises if the next budget year ends in a deficit — are currently favored by voters.

Surrounded by dozens of officials from cities throughout the Southland, Schwarzenegger warned that if those propositions are rejected, the state government will have to take funds from local governments across California.

He said approval of the propositions, which raise taxes in some cases and redirect funds in others, could trim an additional $6 billion from the deficit.

“We understand that people are angry at Sacramento, but they should not let
that anger out by killing those initiatives,” the governor said. “What that will do is hurt their local communities, local schools, local fire stations and police stations.”

Schwarzenegger said if the propositions fail to win approval, taking money from cities could result in the “real possibility of closing fire stations” and the release of many non-violent prisoners.

Culver City Mayor Andrew Weissman sat next to the governor during the dialogue, and told The Wave after the session that the failure of Proposition 1A through 1F could lead to an additional $850,000 in losses for Culver City on top of a $6 million deficit for fiscal year 2009-10.

“In order to balance the budget, we’re going to have to take a look at a whole bunch of options, none of which are particularly attractive,” he said, raising the possibility of employee givebacks, furloughs and closing City Hall on certain days. “The only way to get a balanced budget is by doing less with less.”

South Gate City Councilman Bill DeWitt told Schwarzenegger that his city is “on the edge of the cliff” because of the state budget crisis. “If you have to go to plan B,” said DeWitt, “that’s going to push us and a number of other cities off that cliff,” DeWitt said.

Schwarzenegger responded by explaining why he wanted to meet with local officials: He believes voters have more trust and confidence in their own mayors and council members.

“Let’s each and every one of you try to convince your voters so we don’t have to push you off that cliff,” said Schwarzenegger, noting that a measure similar to 1A won passage in 2004 after local governments took a stronger hand in promoting it. “We need to change the dynamic and communicate to people out there so they can change their minds.”

Proposition 1A, the “Rainy Day Budget Stabilization and Accountability Act,” would extend the state’s temporary one-cent sales tax increase for a year and extend the vehicle license fee and personal income tax hikes for another two years, generating an estimated $16 billion.

The proposition would also require the state to put 3 percent of general fund revenues into a “rainy day” fund.

Proposition 1A is opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Long Beach Taxpayers Association and San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

“With the economy in shambles and unemployment over 10 percent, it could not be a worse time to rob every California family of another $1,000 or more,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Proposition 1B would provide $9.3 billion to schools beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year to make up for current cuts in education spending. The money would come from the contingency fund to be set up under Proposition 1A.

Proposition 1C would allow California to borrow $5 billion against future state lottery sales. Proposition 1D, the “Children’s Services Funding,” would redirect money from the tobacco tax to children’s health and social services, while Proposition 1E would take money from the Mental Health Services Act to pay for children’s health programs.

Under Proposition 1F, the governor, lawmakers and other state officials could not get a pay raise any time the state has a budget deficit.