(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s May Revision budget proposal for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, released this morning.
“California continues to have a responsible budget for a stronger middle class. As we continue to save money in our rainy day fund, education investments remain our top priority. Additionally, more Californians will move into the middle class with the raising of the minimum wage across the state. As we finalize our budget over the next month, we need to develop long term funding strategies for child care, pre-school, and higher education. Infrastructure and housing need investment to keep our people and economy moving forward. We must also continue to lead the fight against climate change. I look forward to working with Governor Brown and my colleagues in the Legislature to enact another on time budget that broadens opportunity while responsibly saving for the future.”
An updated fiscal forecast released in conjunction with the May Revision finds California maintains a budget surplus this year and, barring significant changes, the budget is balanced for the next two years. Furthermore, once taxes approved by voters through Proposition 30 phase out at the end of 2018, the administration projects we will see a deficit of over $4 billion.
A preliminary analysis of the May Revision by the Assembly Budget Committee is available online at www.assembly.ca.gov/budget.
CONTACT: Anthony Matthews, tel. (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov