But that, of course, has meant deeper cuts elsewhere - in libraries, leisure centres and refuse collection.
That has meant deep job cuts, tax increases and reductions in wages and pensions.
Last month the state Legislative Analyst's Office projected a higher shortfall of $3.7 billion, which would have meant even deeper cuts.
Kip and his father have meant something deep to Eber for a long time (maybe he's always felt somehow implicated in their desertion, or judged, and of course is still pissed about it), and in spite of himself he turns to them at times of stress in his life, to see what they might be thinking of him.
In China's eyes, that would almost certanly have meant signing up to far deeper emissions cuts than it's prepared to countenance - remember, it may now be the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, but an average Chinese person is still responsible for only about 6 tonnes of emissions a year, compared to 25 tonnes for an average American.
Despite a growing demand for places, funding cuts in response to the state's deep deficit have meant that students have had to be turned away.
At some companies, though, that has meant delving deeper into job candidates' past, and sometimes looking into their habits and personalities.
Often that has meant digging deeper into their own pockets to make Christmas happen for the needy, many of whom have been pushed into helplessness for the first time in their lives.
Since the Mexican crisis began on Dec. 20 the stock market has lost 33% of its nominal value, but the peso's 40% devaluation against the dollar has meant much deeper real losses for U.S. investors in Mexican securities.
Letting her know that we could talk about it, if she wanted, or that we could also never talk about it, but that, in a way, her sending me to Rita might've meant that, deep down, she was ready to talk about it now, with me, or so it seemed.
