L.A. Now Live: Governor, lawmakers iron out budget details

Gov. Jerry Brown and top lawmakers have reached agreement on some of the most contentious issues in the state budget, granting the governor significant victories on the redistribution of school money and expectations of revenue.

Join us at 9 a.m. as we discuss the latest negotiations between the governor and lawmakers in Sacramento with Times reporter Chris Megerian.

The budget plan would increase funding for schools across the board and send extra money to districts with large numbers of poor students and English learners -- a key goal for Brown.

In addition, legislative leaders agreed to use Brown’s more conservative estimates for state income, bolstering his ability to limit state spending.

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) huddled with Brown in the governor’s office Monday afternoon and emerged smiling. They told reporters that only a few minor details remained to be worked out.

Steinberg and Pérez said they persuaded Brown to accept some new spending for social services and health programs, though not as much or as quickly as they had wanted.

The Legislature must pass a budget by Saturday, and the governor must sign it before it can take effect July 1. With those deadlines looming, lawmakers have been trying to refocus Sacramento’s attention on state finances rather than a federal investigation into one of their own, Sen. Ronald Calderon (D-Montebello).