As Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, I'm happy to report the state's finances are stronger than ever. Thanks to unparalleled prosperity, we have a surplus of nearly $21 billion. I see this as an opportunity to invest in priorities that make life better for all Californians. There's no reason we can't help our most vulnerable residents while maintaining reserves of up to $18 billion.
The Assembly's spending proposal, recently adopted by Budget Committee members, renews focus on ending Great Recession Era cuts and puts the state on a path that lifts up more Californians. This is accomplished by increasing educational opportunities, expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social infrastructure - all while building robust reserves to sustain these investments in the event of an economic downturn.
Some of the highlights include:
- Emergency Aid for our Homeless Crisis: A record $2.4 billion for shelters & services
- Early Childhood Investments: Thousands more childcare and pre-school slots to support working parents
- K-12 and College Opportunities: Per pupil spending rises to over $12,000 plus more enrollment slots at CSU and UC campuses; provides tuition-free second year of community college and Cal Grants for summer coursework
- Progress Toward Universal Health Care: Expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to include the Aged and Disabled, plus young adults from 19 to 25 years old, regardless of immigration status
- More Support for Working Families: Boosts the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) program by 150 percent, enabling more households to receive higher tax refunds; streamlines the CalWORKS program so more families can access benefits
More details can be found here.
Our state budget is a reflection of our values, and I'm proud of what the Assembly has put together. We will be trying to reconcile the differences we have with the Senate and Governor in the coming days. Please do not hesitate to contact my District Office at (415) 557-2312 with your thoughts. I'm confident we can deliver an on-time budget by the June 15th deadline and look forward to sharing the final details.
Sincerely,
