Jerry Brown cuts own office by $6.4M

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SACRAMENTO, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown is cutting $6.4 million from his own office as he prepares a state budget expected to slash billions in services.

The Los Angeles Times reported the new governor will abolish the first lady's office, although he has named his wife, Anne Gust Brown, an unpaid special counselor. He also is reducing staff in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and closing field offices in San Diego, Riverside and Fresno.

Brown is eliminating the secretary of education's post since California already has a superintendent of schools and a board of education.

"California is facing a huge deficit and it is necessary to find savings throughout all of government," he said in a statement Friday. "We all have to make cuts, and I'm starting with my own office."

Brown's budget will cut public schools, universities and health and welfare programs, say people familiar with his plans. He also is seeking a special referendum for voters to extend billions of dollars in sales, income and vehicle taxes to avert further reductions.

Brown's office already did without $650,000 for the transition from his previous post as attorney general. He used empty space in the attorney general's office, spending just $120,000.