A judge has tentatively ruled that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can cut pay for an additional 15,000 state workers who don't directly report to him.
Sacramento County Judge Patrick Marlette on Thursday said he likely would allow the governor to furlough union and nonunion employees who work for other constitutional officers and the Board of Equalization. A final ruling is expected soon.
The governor had sued state Controller John Chiang after Chiang refused to reduce salaries of those state workers.
It's the second time the judge has sided with Schwarzenegger. Marlette has previously given the governor the right to furlough more than 200,000 state workers during the state's budget crisis.
The move is projected to save the state an estimated $1.3 billion through June 2010.
