SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown said Friday that he is returning 84 percent of the governor’s transition fund, making sharp cutbacks in the governor’s office, and eliminating the Office of the Secretary of Education, for a total savings of $7.05 million.

“California is facing a huge deficit and it is necessary to find savings throughout all of government We all have to make cuts and I’m starting with my own office,” said Brown.

As part of the $7 million in cuts, Brown's office reported that is administration is returning 84 percent – or $650,000 – of the $770,000 allocated in the 2010 budget for his transition to the state treasury. His administration spent $120,000 on the transition.

The governor also is cutting spending in his office by 25 percent – $4.5 million – in the budget that will go the Legislature on Monday.

His budget also eliminates funding for the Office of the Secretary of Education. This will save the state $1.9 million.

To achieve the 25 percent savings in his own office, Brown is making cuts that include cutting his Washington, DC office staff and press and communications staff; eliminating the position of cabinet secretary and all deputy cabinet secretaries; eliminating the Office of the First Lady; closing the governor’s field offices in San Diego, Fresno and Riverside; and eliminating the Office of the American Reinvestment and the Recovery Act Inspector General six months ahead of schedule.

The 2010 Budget Act included a total of $18 million for the Governor’s Office. After the 25 percent reduction, the total Governor’s Office budget in 2011 will be $13.4 million.

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