BROWN’S PROPOSED STATE BUDGET BOOSTS FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND THE POOR, PROJECTS HEALTHY SURPLUS

Budget cuts money for enviornmental protection, draws criticism for inadequate increase in funds for developmentally disabled

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2016 (Sacramento) – Governor Jerry Brown has proposed a $170.7 billion budget that includes big increases in education funding and modest increases in programs for the poor, while also adding $2 billion to the state’s rainy day fund.

Relative to years past, the state budget is in good shape,” Brown wrote in a Governor’s message attached to a budget summary.  “Education funding is at its highest level ever,  Fifteen million Californians are covered by Medi‑Cal or Covered California, the minimum wage has risen to $10 an hour, and for the first time, the state will provide almost $400 million to low‑wage working families through an  earned income tax credit.”

He added, “Our Rainy Day Fund is growing and the proposed budget for next year will have a healthy surplus even after spending several billion on long overdue infrastructure investments.” But Brown cautioned against excessive spending and stressed the importance of building up reserves for the next recession, adding, “Fiscal restraint must be the order of the day.”  He also called for “chipping away” at the $72 billion unfunded pension liability.

The proposed budget includes $71.6 billion for K-12 schools and colleges, plus enough new funds for the California State University and University of California systems to avoid tuition hikes. $1.4 billion more for Medi-Cal to help low-income Californians under the Affordable Care Act.  It also includes a 15% increase in funding for the judicial, legislative and executive branches, a move that could help ease clogged court systems.

However the Governor’s budget proposed a 21.8 percent decrease in environmental protection, a move bound to draw objections from environmentalists.

Another area of controversy is funding for services on developmental disabilities. In a rare show of bipartisanship, both Republicans and Democrats, as well as labor.  The budget does propose a $130 million increase in services for the developmentally disabled, but that is less than half what advocates sought. Many programs for the disabled have been frozen for years, with no recent increases.

Local San Diego legislators offered their reactions to the budget proposal.

 Assmbly Budget Chair Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2016-2017 Budget Proposal.

“I am happy to say we continue to see improvement in the state’s fiscal health. That’s a testament to the collaborative efforts of Democrats in both houses of the Legislature, the public and the Governor. I agree overall with the Governor’s vision of ensuring the state’s continued fiscal stability through changes in the business cycle.   I am also heartened in the proposed investment in K-12, higher education and funding for the courts,” she said.

“However, as can be expected, there is room to improve, especially on addressing some of the outstanding critical issues facing the state’s most vulnerable populations, including how we compensate care providers for developmentally disabled Californians and addressing the counterproductive restrictions in the CalWORKs Maximum Family Grant. I believe we can be optimistic about seeing some progress on these issues this year,” Assemblywoman Weber added.

Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee)  had this reaction to the proposed budget.  “While many today are celebrating the surge in revenue, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to show restraint as we move into budget season. There will be great temptation to spend these new funds on expensive pet projects or causes, but it’s important we learn from the past. In addition, this budget reveals that our state has no need for further or extended tax increases; this budget proposal represents a 41.8% increase relative to the budget when I initially took office in 2010,” Assemblyman Jones stated.

He added, “Working with my colleagues and Governor Brown, I hope to develop a budget that utilizes these windfall revenues to help further build up the rainy day fund, expand our water supplies, and rebuild our transportation infrastructure. Our surge in revenues provides our leaders with a rare opportunity to put our state on track for years to come – it’s critical we not waste this opportunity.”