Under the latest version of Gov. Gray Davis' proposed state budget, there's not much in the way of spending cuts. Most of the $38 billion deficit is made up from tax hikes and borrowing.

But there's one glaring exception -- and it's one of the items Californians can least afford to do without.

Included in Davis' budget is a provision to do away with parts of state law that require local governments to make public the agendas, locations and times of all official meetings.

The purpose of the law change is financial, as Sacramento pays $33 million a year to reimburse local governments for all relevant costs related to the open-government provisions.

But this is short-sighted penny-pinching of the worst kind.

The state's open-meeting requirements are a desperate attempt to rein in the abuses of local governments, where back-room deals too often deprive the public of even a semblance of democracy.

If there ever were a time when the state needs greater public scrutiny of government it is now, when local governments find themselves struggling to make ends meet and are tempted to cut corners.

Openness and transparency are key to a functioning democracy. Even in the face of a $38 billion deficit, $33 million is a small price to pay for good government.