Final answer:
The California state budget process involves both the governor, who proposes the budget, and the legislature, which approves and can modify it. The comptroller also provides revenue estimates. Ultimately, the legislature has a significant role and can override the governor's vetoes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The budget process in the state of California involves multiple steps and levels of government. While the governor initiates the budget proposal, indicating funding priorities and amounts appropriated to various state agencies, they do not have the sole authority to finalize the state budget. This responsibility is shared with the legislature, which plays a significant role in approving and modifying the budget proposed by the governor. The legislature can call special sessions to address budgetary issues and has the power of the purse, meaning it can approve or withhold funding as a means to direct policy-making.
Further, the state comptroller also plays a crucial role by providing an itemized estimate of anticipated revenues and certifying that any appropriations bill passed by the Legislature falls within available revenues before the bill goes to the Governor for signature. However, it is the legislature that has the final say through its ability to override any vetoes made by the governor, including those on specific budget items. While the budget process involves consultation and the possibility of decentralized budgetary discussions, it is not entirely decentralized, and counties do not manage their finances independently from the state budget process.