California hopes garage sale will put funds into state coffer

The prison department contributed dental chairs and surplus prison shirts and jeans.

“Welcome to our garage sale,’’ Schwarzenegger told reporters during a warehouse tour yesterday morning. “As you know we’re trying to raise some extra money here, getting rid of the old stuff we don’t use anymore.’’

A selection of the items was sold on eBay and Craigslist. Schwarzenegger autographed 15 car visors and four California Highway Patrol motorcycles in an effort to fetch more money during the sale yesterday and today.

California sure could use the cash: The state had to hand out IOUs earlier this year, government workers are on the brink of revolt over a 14 percent pay cut, and the state remains in a financial morass.

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel recently spoofed the upcoming garage sale, saying the governor was so desperate he was selling everything from a set of burned dumbbells for $10 to a pair of leg warmers for $8 that had been used by his wife, Maria Shriver.

Schwarzenegger has even been going online to promote the sale.

The idea for a garage sale came from state employees and was put into motion by the governor through an executive order earlier this year. At the time, the state was struggling with a projected $26 billion deficit.

After signing the order to reduce the state’s 40,000 government vehicles by 15 percent, Schwarzenegger posted a video message thanking his Twitter followers for their budget-balancing ideas, including one follower’s suggestion to autograph state-owned vehicles being put up for auction.

“You come up with the great ideas. ‘Why not just sign the cars since you’re a celebrity governor? Sign the cars and sell it for more money?’ ’’ the governor said in the video, sitting at his desk in the state Capitol. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.’’