California budget hit with 3 lawsuits

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California's budget, already on shaky footing with tax revenues coming in lower than forecast, was hit with three new problems Wednesday when advocates for public schools, the developmentally disabled and cities filed separate lawsuits challenging the spending plan.

The California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators and three school districts claim the budget shortchanges schools by $2.1 billion, while service providers for people with developmental disabilities argue that a $91 million cut runs afoul of federal and state mandates.

The League of California Cities filed a suit challenging a shift of $130 million in vehicle license fee money from cities to counties to pay for realignment, the criminal justice overhaul engineered by the governor to reduce the prison population.

If successful, the lawsuits would add even more uncertainty to the state's fiscal situation and further limit the ability of lawmakers and the governor to make cuts.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/28/BAR61LAP1F.DTL