“In the face of a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, a cell phone may not seem like a big expense,” Brown said, in a statement. “But spending $20 million, and perhaps far more than that, on cell phones can’t be justified. We’re facing a budget crisis in California and I want to achieve all possible, reasonable savings.”

Agency and department heads will be required to collect and turn in 48,000 cell-phones currently paid for by the state by June 1, although Brown noted that number may drop because the state could be forced to pay costly termination penalties.

“Because of contract obligations, it is possible that we may not be able eliminate all 48,000 cell phones by June 1, but it is also conceivable that we can do it earlier – and that is my hope,” Brown said in the statement posted to the governor’s website.

If 48,000 cell-phones are stripped from the government rolls, one-fifth of state employees would still have one, Brown said.

“That still seems like too much and I want every department and agency to examine and justify all cell phone usage,” he said.

Brown’s executive order comes one day after he released a stark budget proposal that included $12.5 billion in cuts and $12 billion in revenue from extending a series of tax increases passed in 2009.

The newly minted governor is spending Tuesday meeting with legislators to discuss his budget proposal. 

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