More money for schools, a “rainy day fund” constitutional amendment and paying back a whole lot of debt. Those are the highlights of California Governor Jerry Brown’s new state budget – a proposal that leaked out two days before its planned Friday release.
The budget obtained by Capital Public Radio projects that the state now has a $4.6 billion surplus for the current and upcoming fiscal years. That’s compared to a $25 billion deficit three years ago when Governor Brown was sworn in.
Among the headlines:
- K-through-12 schools and community colleges would get more than six billion dollars above what they’re getting this year.
- The state would spend an extra 670 million dollars on expanding Medi-Cal under the federal health care law.
- There’s more than 800 million dollars set aside for infrastructure projects – from state parks and highways to schools, courts and prisons.
- And there’s a five percent increase in welfare grants.
Brown also wants to codify a budget reserve in the state’s constitution … replacing an existing law that’s not considered to be effective and a separate proposal – disliked by Democrats – that’s currently scheduled for the November ballot.
The governor originally planned to unveil the budget Friday, but just announced he’ll present Thursday at 9 a.m. after a copy was leaked Wednesday afternoon.
Note: A previous version of this story had a different figure for the budget surplus. The Department of Finance's projected two-year budget surplus is at $4.6 billion.
July 7, 2014Four months after Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers announced “emergency drought legislation,” the vast majority of the money sits untouched.
June 24, 2014School districts, teachers and state taxpayers will each chip in more money to stabilize the California State Teachers Retirement System under a measure signed Tuesday by Governor Jerry Brown.
June 16, 2014Democrats are lauding the passage of California’s $156 billion budget while Republicans say state spending is becoming excessive.
June 13, 2014California Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders say they’ve reached a final budget deal.
June 12, 2014California Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders have yet to announce a state budget deal – even though many of their compromises have been ratified by a joint Senate-Assembly conference committee
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