Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday proposed a budget that relies on $12.5 billion in spending cuts over the next 18 months and higher taxes over the next five years to solve the state budget deficit.

“These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice,” Brown said in a statement. “For 10 years, we’ve had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth.”

Brown’s budget includes an 8 to 10 percent cut in state worker pay. According to his press release, Brown wants to save “$308 million for a 10 percent reduction in take-home pay for state employees not currently covered under collective bargaining agreements.” The Democratic governor will ask voters in a June special election to approve higher tax rates on sales, vehicles and income for five years.

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