State finances are notoriously bewildering. But they'd be easier to understand if officials stuck to playing with the numbers instead of the language.

Last month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a show of announcing that his latest budget proposal calls for California to spend no more money than it brings in.

"I'm very happy to announce today that in this new budget our new operating deficit has been reduced to zero," he said. "You heard me right. We have reduced the operating deficit to zero."

This was monumental news for a state that for years had been living beyond its means. Most Capitol reporters, including me, dutifully reported the claim.

But the governor's own numbers show it's not exactly true. As state Finance Director Mike Genest later revealed in the same news conference, the budget "spends $1,863,000,000 more than it takes in."