Tag: Budget

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Healey’s first budget boosts spending on public education, green energy and the MBTA

Healey’s first budget boosts spending on public education, green energy and the MBTA

Gov. Maura Healey’s very first state spending budget is a $55.5 billion deal explained as a “down payment” on the governor’s aims of producing Massachusetts a additional very affordable area to live, addressing local climate modify, and planning pupils for an evolving economy.

The bottom line for fiscal yr 2024 spending is a 4.1{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} improve about the existing year’s spending plan. The administration, as nicely as lawmakers, anticipate to see an boost in point out revenues of about $1 billion from the state’s new cash flow surtax.

That $1 billion from the surtax on money in excessive of $1 million will go towards Healey’s investing on training ($510 million) and transportation ($490 million). Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz said that some of the investments the new governor’s price range proposes “would be really tough” to have produced with out the new income stream.

On the education aspect, Healey is proposing to use the surtax income to fork out for $100 million in child care grants to providers, $140 million in larger training funds funding, and $20 million to set up a absolutely free neighborhood college program for people more mature than 25 with out college or university levels. She’s also proposing a $93 million growth of a state scholarship program, a $59 million effort to stabilize tuition and expenses at UMass and other general public larger education and learning establishments, and more.

In total, higher instruction would be in line for an boost of $371 million or 23{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} in the Healey spending plan. That involves a 3{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} improve to the base funding for every single better education section, such as the College of Massachusetts program.

“Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll have created a bold assertion about the importance of the College of Massachusetts to the socio-economic upcoming of the Commonwealth,” UMass President Marty Meehan reported. “These transformational investments would extend entry to our world-class education and learning and increase the impression of our statewide analysis enterprise.”

For transportation, the surtax revenues would go in direction of $181 million in MBTA capital investments, launching a $100 million municipal partnership software, providing $100 million for highway bridge upkeep and preservation, and generating $25 million available in regional transit funding and grants.

The funds strategy also boosts funding for the Executive Workplace of Strength and Environmental Affairs, which sits at the center of the state’s efforts to lessen carbon emissions to a net-zero amount by 2050 and to electrify buildings, autos and additional.

EEA would get $543.6 million below Healey’s spending budget — an raise of 24{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} from the existing year. That would permit the secretariat to seek the services of 240 new team customers. The administration claimed it would be the initial time an annual point out spending plan dedicates at the very least 1{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of its overall to EEA.

Soon after observing state revenues surge virtually 40{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} above the last two fiscal several years, the administration and Legislature are preparing for a “slowcession” about the following 12 months and a half — not a downturn from the elevated income amounts, but a definite handbrake on the eye-popping will increase of new many years.

Ahead of Wednesday’s official filing of the finish price range, Healey previewed numerous of the central features of her initial expending plan.

She informed nearby officers she would propose a overall of $8.36 billion for community help packages, which the administration stated would be a $635 million or 8.2{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} maximize above the ultimate price range Gov. Charlie Baker signed for fiscal 2023. Along with $1.26 billion for common federal government help (a $24.6 million or 2{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} maximize), cities and cities would share $6.585 billion in Chapter 70 university funding (a $586 million or 9.8{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} improve) underneath Healey’s approach.

The Healey administration mentioned the Chapter 70 total it proposed signifies complete funding of the Scholar Opportunity Act university finance reform law passed in 2019.  The regulation aims to deal with education equity gaps with $1.5 billion in new money rolled out about a seven-year span.

Earlier this week, Healey also introduced a tax reduction and reform package deal that could swell to as considerably as $1 billion each year.

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Evers budget proposes $305M for UW System, expanding financial aid | Education

Evers budget proposes $305M for UW System, expanding financial aid | Education

Gov. Tony Evers is proposing a major spending raise for increased education and learning to help establishments with mounting costs.

Evers’ state finances, declared Wednesday evening, would enhance the College of Wisconsin System’s funds by $305.9 million above the biennium. But even as the condition finds alone in an unparalleled fiscal place, with a projected $7.1 billion surplus, the number is practically $130 million less than the UW System’s request of $435.6 million, in accordance to figures from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.  

Irrespective of the shortfall, UW Process President Jay Rothman lauded the governor’s proposal. 

“Gov. Evers’ point out spending budget gives essential financial investment for the UW Technique to aid satisfy its mission on behalf of the people today of Wisconsin,” Rothman said in a statement. 

The governor’s initiatives will require guidance from Republicans who hold majorities in each chambers of the Legislature. The Republican co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee advised reporters right away just after the governor’s deal with that they will throw out his proposal and get started from scratch, crafting a new shelling out prepare from the base spending budget.

No funding for tuition freeze

The $130 million shortfall for the UW Technique could direct the establishment to hike tuition fees, which the Board of Regents will explore in the coming months.

Nevertheless, Evers informed reporters in Middleton on Thursday that his proposed budget would offer the university with plenty of funds that the Regents should not require to put into practice an improve. 

A tuition freeze for in-condition undergraduates has been in place considering the fact that 2013 at the UW Technique. In 2021, the Legislature returned tuition-environment authority to the Regents and lifted the Republican-led freeze, but the Board of Regents selected to continue to keep the freeze in put. 

“Instead of talking about a freeze, we’re conversing about the point that we’re offering a sizeable volume of income to our bigger education and learning establishments and as a consequence of that there ought to be a reasonable or no boost,” Evers explained. “The Board of Regents is ready to increase costs if they wish but I imagine that will not happen.”

It is the 1st time Evers has not integrated cash for the UW System to freeze tuition in his proposed finances. He provided funding for the freeze in his two former budget proposals. 

$24.5M for Wisconsin Tuition Promise 

Evers’ investing plan also includes $24.5 million to deal with the expenditures of the UW System’s Wisconsin Tuition Promise, which launches upcoming slide. 

The program waives the expenditures of tuition and expenses that remain right after acquiring economic support for in-state learners whose domestic incomes are fewer than $62,000 for every yr. The UW Method will fund the 1st calendar year of the method in 2023-24 with $13.8 million.

“Funding the Wisconsin Tuition Promise is a sport-changer, as it will produce expertise that is required in Wisconsin’s workforce,” Rothman mentioned. 

Even so, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, advised the Each day Cardinal the system “should be considerably far more of a personal concentration.”

“If the college would like to go out and raise private sources, I assume that is an exceptional use of their fundraising prowess if they pick to,” Vos stated. “I believe it is almost certainly not a thing we’re heading to be capable to fund at the state stage when we see so quite a few individuals having difficulties with having to pay their taxes and all of the other charges.” 

UW-Madison has a identical method to the Wisconsin Tuition Promise, termed Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which is not funded with condition bucks. 

Other initiatives 

The governor is also proposing a number of other increased instruction-related initiatives. All those contain: 

  • $32.9 million for specialized faculties, the largest enhance in general support at any time provided to the specialized school program

  • $17 million for the Wisconsin Grant, a will need-dependent economical assist system for undergraduates at state faculties or universities

  • 5{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} pay out raises for point out and Program workforce the 1st calendar year and 3{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} the 2nd

  • $1 million for the UW Procedure to produce a strategy to put into action a direct admissions program by the 2025-26 educational year, allowing for large faculty graduates to be admitted instantly

  • providing in-point out tuition at technological colleges and the UW Technique to students who are undocumented immigrants or citizens of a federally acknowledged tribe in particular states

In the coming weeks and months, Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee will comb through Evers’ proposal and could slash sizable portions of it — as they did to his initial two funds proposals.

In the very last finances session, the committee permitted just $8.25 million for the UW Procedure, in comparison to Evers’ proposed $190 million. The governor provided $24 million in that investing system for complex schools, but the committee slice it to $9 million.

Share your belief on this subject by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Contain your whole name, hometown and phone number. Your title and town will be released. The cell phone number is for verification needs only. Make sure you keep your letter to 250 words and phrases or a lot less.

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Budget recommendations for higher education affordability in Massachusetts

Budget recommendations for higher education affordability in Massachusetts

As your administration prepares your initially funds proposal, we — the undersigned civil rights, social justice, and academic equity organizations — compose to urge you to make sure an very affordable, superior-quality postsecondary education and learning is in just attain for all Massachusetts college students, and especially for systemically underserved populations by raising investments in general public greater instruction.

Increased instruction has long been one particular of society’s primary drivers of opportunity, social mobility, and financial progress — which is especially correct for Massachusetts, the place employment progressively need higher education degrees . However, there are obvious — and developing — gaps in who can find the money for faculty, in particular in the Commonwealth. In 2019, Massachusetts’ affordability hole for learners from minimal-income people at general public 4-calendar year establishments was $6,293 , which means that even after money support, quite a few pupils would require to work 20 hours per 7 days to pay for college — double the Lumina foundation’s recommendation . Also, indirect expenditures, this kind of as transportation, textbooks, and system supplies, can typically make up over 50 percent of the full price tag of college , which financial assist does not protect. In addition, above the past 5 yrs, school attendance has declined, and gaps between college students from lower-earnings districts and their wealthier peers have widened — and these disparities have true implications for pupils, their communities, and our Commonwealth’s financial state and democracy.

We imagine in the possible of all our state’s youth, and we know the essential part better education and learning performs in aiding them accomplish their aims. With at minimum a billion pounds in new once-a-year funding from Concern 1 — also recognised as the Reasonable Share Amendment — and a increased general public demand from customers for adjust than we have noticed in recent yrs, your administration has the possibility to seize this crucial and unique minute to fortify and spend in a far more equitable greater education and learning program that improvements the trajectory of all students’ lives for the better — not just some. Despite the fact that we realize that your administration will be confronting a multitude of troubles for the fiscal year 2024 price range, several are as integral as education and learning equity to the well-getting of family members throughout our state, to our state’s economy and democracy, and to the Commonwealth’s ability to reside up to its values.

Now, your historic election as governor and your community motivation to increased schooling, the recent variety of Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega, and the Board of Greater Education’s strategic evaluation of community better education finance — which was instrumental in serving to to far better fully grasp the present-day point out of community greater training financing and how it impacts students and establishments in Massachusetts — have resulted in elevated momentum on Beacon Hill to tackle long-standing fiscal difficulties in larger schooling.

The selections you make now on how much to devote, as nicely as in which and how to devote that funding, will significantly affect the educational outcomes and life of students for a long time to occur. Therefore, we urge you to:

  1. Commit in student economical support. Much more than 80,000 students across the Commonwealth get condition fiscal aid. When access to these methods has eased the fiscal burden for a lot of pupils, the fact is that nowadays, condition-funded monetary support has less influence and price as the value of attending colleges and universities has steadily increased. In addition to these cash masking more compact fractions of the charge of higher education, the inequitable distribution of aid throughout our increased education and learning sectors leaves systemically underserved pupils no choice but to get on burdensome quantities of scholar financial loan debt, get the job done additional, and/or get fewer classes — even if all those approaches decrease their opportunity of results. For that reason, we urge you to help BHE’s suggestion to at least double once-a-year economical support for students from our most affordable-income family members at all segments and invest in conference the expense of residing for Pell-suitable students with a stipend of $2,000 per calendar year. When this enlargement of economical help will not fully near the affordability gaps pupils facial area, it will make development to be certain that all pupils can afford to pay for higher education.
  2. Commit in wraparound providers for faculties to present much more university student aid. Evidence shows that faculties can appreciably raise students’ capability to keep in college and full their coursework by investing in culturally sustainable wraparound help expert services, these kinds of as peer mentoring, academic capabilities workshops, transportation stipends, dependent care assist, and qualified academic, career, transfer, and scholarship advising. In Massachusetts, we have created headway to make sure bigger education is a lot more inclusive by making the Supporting Urgent Local community College Equity as a result of Scholar Expert services (Results) Fund, a more recent line item established via the FY21 funds. This fund is important to delivering entry to wraparound companies and supports vital for neighborhood faculty college students throughout the state. However, prior concentrations of funding have permitted only a fragment of learners to benefit. We motivate you to assist BHE’s advice to spend $2,000 for each Pell-qualified college student into institutional support to be certain that all systemically underserved students attending neighborhood colleges are in a position to entry required supports and expert services.
  3. Assistance Innovation and Reform. About the last 10 years, enrollment at our state’s public bigger instruction institutions has substantially declined, the student populace has develop into ever more assorted, and the variety of component-time learners has amplified. These variations have to have our public bigger training process to expand and adapt to meet the needs of all students. In modern yrs, the Department of Better Schooling (DHE) has successfully utilized assets to detect and eliminate systemic boundaries (e.g., Mass Transfer, Early University, and lowering remediation) throughout the community method. These ground breaking programs have increased affordability and the chance that students, notably systemically underserved students, will successfully finish their levels. As these, we help DHE’s price range suggestion of $25 million for the Bigger Schooling Innovation Fund and the MA Alliance for Early College coalition’s recommendation of $27.6M for Early Faculty.
  4. Commit in Community Better Training. Massachusetts lags behind other states in general public better training paying as a share of complete budgetary expenses, bigger education shelling out per capita, and per-pupil point out guidance. On top of that, state resources are not allotted equitably to institutions with any regard for the selection of learners served or the distinctive supports and resources that learners want. As a outcome, the price tag of larger education and learning has shifted in latest years from the shoulders of the condition to that of households and college students, ensuing in an affordability disaster, specifically for college students from minimal-cash flow people and pupils of colour. If we don’t act now to reverse these designs and make sure that all pupils can find the money for to entire their degrees and qualifications, they, along with our overall economy and our democracy, will carry on to shell out a hefty price. The Board of Bigger Education’s current strategic critique of community better education and learning funding culminated in an acknowledgment that the latest funding process is not equitable and there is a want for the condition to restructure how funding is allocated to general public schools and universities. Via this forthcoming price range course of action, we stimulate your administration to prioritize distributing larger shares of appropriated dollars to establishments that provide the maximum percentage of systematically underserved college students even though making a prolonged-expression tactic to update the state’s funds formula.

Via your initially funds proposal, you have the chance to make racial, financial, and educational equity a foundational pillar of your administration. As governor, you can direct by guaranteeing that in a single of the country’s wealthiest states, all pupils get the instruction they have earned and that Massachusetts’ businesses have the proficient and numerous workforce they need to have to thrive.

Thank you for your notice to this letter. You should reach out to the undersigned groups if we can share much more data about how these investments would assist the achievement of the pupils and families we stand for.

Respectfully submitted,

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Stamford finance board sounds alarm on education budget ‘fiscal cliff’

Stamford finance board sounds alarm on education budget ‘fiscal cliff’

A overall of 120 Stamford faculty positions, at a cost of approximately $8.8 million, are established to expire in the following two yrs, as they are funded as a result of limited-expression COVID-19 aid dollars.

All those positions — which consist of 19.5 kindergarten para-educator comprehensive-time equivalent places, or FTEs, 23 mum or dad facilitators, 21 engineering integration specialists, 8.5 teacher FTEs and 27 protection workers — are at the moment paid for by the next and 3rd installments of the federal Elementary and Secondary University Unexpected emergency Aid funds, also recognized as ESSER II and ESSER III.

The second installment is established to conclude after this university calendar year concludes. The third and most important part of the funds will expire at the finish of the 2023-24 college 12 months.

For the positions to continue being intact past 2024, the district will want to uncover a way to pay for them.

Officials have referred to the phenomena as an oncoming “fiscal cliff.”

In the course of a digital meeting Thursday evening of the Board of Finance, member Mary Lou Rinaldi said she expected the Board of Schooling to devote the the vast majority of the ESSER funds to cash assignments, relatively than use a massive chunk of it to pay out for the 120 positions.

In May well, the Board of Finance agreed to make a college design fund of approximately $20 million by growing property taxes by 1 per cent. Rinaldi mentioned she was nervous about the Board of Education’s dedication to the university construction tasks.

“That fears me mainly because we’ve set in $20 million by way of our endeavours and we had been hoping that the Board of (Education) was likely to be a significant lover in that and we have been going to see a greater part of … ESSER funds created obtainable to stockpile for university construction and renovation,” she stated.

Ryan Fealey, finance director for Stamford Community Educational facilities, responded that the district could not stockpile those people cash, considering that they expire at the conclude of the following university calendar year. Plus, ESSER cash can only be utilised for precise money initiatives these types of as air high quality enhancements and doorways and home windows, for illustration.

The district has fully commited $10 million in ESSER dollars for funds jobs this yr, and will likely use another $4 million of the funds upcoming calendar year on creating advancements, he stated.

Rinaldi mentioned she remained anxious.

“At some place, the funding goes absent … and now the Board of Instruction operating spending budget is heading to balloon, we’re likely to tumble off a cliff to now fund out of tax dollars 120 positions,” she explained.

Fealey stated it is not likely that all of the 120 positions would be funded by way of the functioning price range as soon as federal bucks dried up. He included that predicted raises in wages, health care, transportation, utilities and perhaps special education will drive up the price range request as well.

“ESSER positions are just just one of many pressures coming,” he said.

Throughout a Board of Education and learning conference last month, Fealey projected that the school district’s finances would develop by about 5.3 per cent every of the future two yrs if all of the positions have been to be moved into the working finances. That would be additional than double the working budget’s ordinary enhance of 2.5 per cent just about every calendar year over the earlier eight decades.

Rinaldi cautioned that she would not help a bigger increase.

“I want to go on report just to say that I’m not likely to be in favor of a 6 or 7 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} increase in your functioning finances appear subsequent year or the year soon after,” she mentioned. “There has to be some constraint, especially if the Board of (Education) is critical about this lengthy-selection building. One thing has obtained to give.”

In total, the district has acquired about $55.34 million COVID-19 aid money by several grants, with about $23.8 million remaining to invest in the up coming two faculty decades.

During the conference, board users deliberated in excess of two college-related appropriations: a $40,000 request to update the district’s facilities master strategy, and $400,000 to fund the software course of action for state funding for 4 university developing jobs.

The $40,000 item, which passed unanimously, requires updating the district’s not long ago done grasp facilities approach to replicate adjustments to the reimbursement charge the town receives from the point out.

Below the new rules, the state’s refund amount for new school building in Stamford will be 60 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} for the up coming 25 several years, a great deal larger than the 20 p.c amount the metropolis made use of to get.

The new framework will provide much extra funding for Stamford’s bold master strategy to create or extend four schools, like a new K-8 college in south Stamford, and make improvements to lots of other people. The approximated value to apply the whole program is a lot more than $500 million in excess of 12 a long time.

Board associates did not aid the $400,000 appropriation, however, picking out to postpone it an additional month.

The funds would be used to fund the application process for development jobs at Turn of River Middle School, Rippowam Center University, KT Murphy Elementary University and the facility at 83 Lockwood Ave.

The past two properties will be applied to create a south Stamford K-8 school divided amongst the two campuses.

Customers argued that it built minimal feeling to fund the application method for the 4 web pages in advance of revising the grasp amenities plan.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com

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California Budget Includes $41 Billion For Higher Education

California Budget Includes $41 Billion For Higher Education

The new California spending plan incorporates $41 billion in funding for increased instruction. The spending budget, signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom past 7 days, will raise larger instruction shelling out appreciably but leaves some important reforms to the fiscal assist program unfunded.

The maximize in funding will signify supplemental assistance for pupils attending California schools and universities. Highlights in the spending plan include things like a 5{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} paying boost for the University of California (UC) and the California State (Cal State) procedure and significant gains for the California Community College (CCC) program to improve immediate assist to the reduced-income learners the process serves,

The CCC program will acquire an supplemental $150 million to assistance the method improve enrollment and retention charges. These cash will enable the system deal with and ideally reverse declining enrollment, mostly because of to pandemic-related enrollment declines.

California Community colleges will obtain $10 million in ongoing funding to aid primary wants centers to assist pupils going through food items insecurity. Approximately fifty per cent of CCC learners are foods insecure, in accordance to analysis printed in 2019, so this support is drastically necessary. The process will also get $10 million in funding to present money help for swift re-housing endeavours built to assistance pupils struggling with homelessness or housing insecurity.

Involving this spending plan and final year’s, California has allotted $2.2 billion for housing-linked assignments to supply expanded scholar housing for small-cash flow pupils who have struggled to pay for housing with California’s large rents.

In addition to the funding boosts, the finances broadens entry to the Cal Grant program by removing policies that prevented older college students from accessing the grant programs. The proposed improvements could maximize the quantity of Cal Grant eligible students by 100,000. The changes make sure that increasingly older and far more various learners can get guidance from California’s flagship fiscal assist application. Starting up in 2024-25, the revised program guidelines will clear away limits that prevented college students from getting a Cal Grant if they had been more than a single 12 months out of large university. The changes also fall a large faculty GPA verification necessity and streamline the a variety of and generally complicated Cal grant types into Cal grant 2 (for community higher education learners) and Cal Grant 4 (for learners attending 4-year establishments).

The changes to the Cal Grant plan are at the moment unfunded and will need added income in the higher training budget in 2024 to be absolutely enacted. Advocates have pushed for the streamlining and enlargement of the Cal Grant software that these improvements signify for various decades. The advancements, whilst welcome, are currently being fulfilled with some disappointment that they are not presently funded.

A transform confident to be welcomed by a lot of Californians is $67.8 million in extra standard money for the UC program to continue on raising the enrollment of in-point out students. The UC program, in certain, has confronted criticism for enrolling nonresident learners as entry for California citizens has gotten ever a lot more challenging.

The UC system will maintain present growth ideas by continuing the advancement of 6,230 undergraduate college students among 2018-19 and 2023-24. This maximize in enrollment will incorporate replacing more than 900 nonresident undergraduate college students with The UC procedure will obtain $31 million in ongoing funding to offset the decreased tuition that in-point out college students pay back when compared to nonresidents. This funding will mostly go to the a few campuses—UCLA, Berkeley, and UC San Diego—that enroll the most nonresident students. The Cal State Program will expand by 9,434 comprehensive-time equivalent college students in the 2022-23 academic 12 months.

The funds is witnessed as a get for California college students and establishments, with some advocates noting that this must be the start of ongoing boosts if California is heading to reverse declines in funding above the earlier two a long time.

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Governor Newsom Signs Budget Putting Money Back in Californians’ Pockets and Investing in State’s Future

Governor Newsom Signs Budget Putting Money Back in Californians’ Pockets and Investing in State’s Future

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a $308 billion state budget that provides direct tax refunds for 23 million Californians to help address rising costs, tackles the state’s most pressing needs, builds our reserves, and invests in California’s future.

Here are the top 10 things you need to know about the budget:

1. “Cha-ching! You just received a deposit.”

Global inflation. Rising costs. It’s hard out there and we know it. So, we’re giving you $9.5 billion back. MILLIONS of Californians– 23 million to be exact – will benefit from up to $1,050, as soon as October! See if you qualify on the new Middle-Class Tax Refund calculator here.

2.  Don’t go into crippling debt over a hospital visit

Want health care? We’re now the FIRST and ONLY state in the nation that offers universal access to health care coverage, regardless of your immigration status. Want insulin? California will be producing our own insulin to make it cheaper and more affordable for everyone.

3. A real “Pro-life” agenda

Fun fact – California is actually a pro-life state. We’re protecting reproductive freedoms and supporting Californians throughout their lives. In this budget, we’re investing over $200 million in reproductive care. We’re making a company’s willingness to move OUT of anti-choice states and TO the reproductive freedom state of California a factor in awarding state business tax credits. But we’re not stopping at reproductive care. We’re investing in a child’s entire lifespan. From birth to college and beyond. That means universal preschool, free school meals, expanded before and after school programs, more counselors for our schools, free community college, the list goes on.

4. Climate change is real y’all

While SCOTUS is kneecapping the federal EPA’s ability to fight climate change, California is making a climate commitment on the scale of what other countries are spending. Our $53.9 billion in new investments will better protect Californians from the extreme weather that has been impacting our bills, our livelihoods, our farms and our families. We’re investing in fire protection and drought response while forging an oil-free future away from big polluters, and more. Later is too late and we will act now so our kids and grandkids have a brighter, cleaner future.

5. Getting people into housing & shelter and off the streets

We are making major investments to address California’s homelessness crisis by getting people into housing & shelter. We have $2.2 billion for encampment resolutions around the state and new bridge housing to support people going through CARE Court – tens of thousands of people with a safe roof over their head and the mental health and substance use help many desperately need.

6. Keeping the lights on

California has an energy plan. Drought is causing lower energy production. Extreme heat is causing increased energy demand. Wildfires threaten energy infrastructure. So, we’re investing $4.3 BILLION to help keep the lights on this summer, invest in clean and reliable energy infrastructure, help with your energy bills, accelerate our transition to clean energy and so much more. We’re building the energy system of the future.

7. A real public safety plan

Californians should always feel safe — whether that’s at home, at the park, or at work. California is tackling the root causes of crime and getting guns and drugs off our streets. The state is launching the largest gun buyback program in the nation, funding a permanent Smash and Grab Enforcement Unit to fight retail theft, and investing $30 million to support the National Guard’s drug interdiction efforts, targeting transnational criminal organizations.

8. Literally transforming education in our state

It’s no longer K-12, it’s Pre-K -16. We are investing a – truly – historic $170 billion to continue our transformation of education in California. From our master plan for early learning to free community college, education has never been more accessible in our state. NEW this year, we have $7.9 billion to help with learning recovery, more investments in higher education, an additional $2 billion for affordable student housing (on top of last year’s $2 billion), and $3.5 billion that schools can use on arts, music, and more.

9. Getting our kids help with mental health

After these last few years, everyone knows we are experiencing a mental health crisis and California is taking it seriously. We’re investing big in behavioral health for adults and our kids. This year, there’s new urgent funding for wellness support programs, funding for youth suicide reporting and prevention, and more.

10. Rebuilding California

Railroads. Highways. Streets. We’re investing in infrastructure! This budget includes a $14.8 BILLION transportation infrastructure investment. That means money for rail and transit projects, climate adaptation projects, walking and bicycling projects, high-speed rail, our ports, and more. AND we’re investing to speed up our transition to zero-emission vehicles. Beep beep!

“In the face of new challenges and uncertainties, we’re providing over $17 billion in relief to help families make ends meet, and doubling down on our investments to keep building the California Dream on a strong fiscal foundation,” said Governor Newsom. “This budget invests in our core values at a pivotal moment, safeguarding women’s right to choose, expanding health care access to all and supporting the most vulnerable among us while shoring up our future with funds to combat the climate crisis, bolster our energy grid, transform our schools and protect communities. Building a better future for all, we’ll continue to model what progressive and responsible governance can look like, the California way.”

Amid record rates of inflation and economic uncertainty on the horizon, the budget continues to build resiliency with $37.2 billion in budgetary reserves and 93 percent of the discretionary surplus allocated for one-time projects.

Additional details include:

$17 Billion Inflation Relief Package

$9.5 Billion for Tax Refunds to Help Address Inflation: The budget provides tax refunds of up to $1,050 for 23 million Californians to help offset rising prices. 

$1.95 Billion for Emergency Rental Assistance: The budget provides additional funds to ensure qualified low-income tenants who requested rental assistance before March 31 get the support they need.

$1.4 Billion to Help Californians Pay Past-Due Utility Bills: Expanding on last year’s utility relief program, the budget provides funds to continue covering past-due electricity and water bills.

$439 Million to Pause the State Sales Tax on Diesel for 12 Months: Bringing relief to the commercial sector and drivers, the budget includes a pause of the General Fund (3.9375 percent rate) portion of the sales tax rate on diesel fuel that will provide an estimated $439 million in relief.

$53.9 Billion California Climate Commitment 

New investments in this year’s budget bring California’s multi-year climate commitment to $53.9 billion to protect Californians from the impacts of climate change, help forge an oil-free future and tackle pollution. 

Drought and Water Resilience: Building on last year’s $5.2 billion commitment to ensure water security for Californians, the budget invests another $2.8 billion for near- and long-term actions to build water resilience, promote conservation and more.

Fighting Wildfires: $2.7 billion investment to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and bolster forest health. These projects include forest thinning, prescribed burns, grazing, reforestation, and fuel breaks.

Accelerating the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition: Building on last year’s unprecedented ZEV package, the budget invests an additional $6.1 billion to create a total $10 billion package to expand ZEV access and affordability and support the build-out of infrastructure across the state.

Bolstering our Energy System: Allocates $4.3 billion to support energy reliability, provides relief to ratepayers, creates strategic energy reserves and accelerates clean energy projects.  Allocates an additional $3.8 billion for clean energy projects to boost affordability and reliability.

$14.8 billion for regional transit, rail and ports projects to support the continued development of clean transportation projects, including California’s first-in-the-nation high-speed rail system and bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Expanding Health Care Access

Health Care Access for All: With this budget, California becomes the first state in the nation to provide universal access to affordable health coverage for lower-income individuals by providing coverage for Californians ages 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status. It also establishes the Office of Health Care Affordability to develop cost targets for the health care industry and impose consequences if they are not met.

Reproductive Health Care: As other states restrict access to this critical care, California is providing more than $200 million for grants and services for reproductive health care providers in order to expand access, improve clinical infrastructure and more to prepare for the expected influx of women from out of state seeking care.

Transforming the Children’s Behavioral Health System: Building on the $1.4 billion investment in last year’s budget to transform California’s behavioral health system for all children, the budget includes an additional $290 million over three years to address urgent needs, including funding for programs that promote well-being and grants to support children and youth at increased risk of suicide and a youth suicide crisis response pilot.

Affordable Insulin: The budget invests $100 million to develop and manufacture low-cost biosimilar insulin products to increase insulin availability and affordability in California.

Confronting Homelessness and the Mental Health Crisis

Additional $3.4 Billion General Fund over two years to build on last year’s $12 billion multi-year investment by continuing progress on expanding behavioral health housing, encampment cleanup grants and support for local government efforts.

Supporting the CARE Court framework to assist people living with untreated mental health and substance abuse disorders, the budget includes funds for state department and Judicial Branch costs associated with the proposal.

Safer Communities

Combatting COVID-19: The budget adds $1.8 billion to continue implementing the state’s SMARTER plan, including more funding to support school testing, increase vaccination rates and more. The budget also invests $300 million General Fund for CDPH and local health jurisdictions to permanently expand the state’s capacity to protect public health and promote health equity.

Tackling Crime: The budget expands CHP’s retail theft task force and includes funding for the Attorney General to prosecute organized retail theft crimes, lead anti-crime task forces throughout the state, and establish a new Fentanyl Enforcement Program. Additionally, the budget expands fentanyl drug interdiction efforts led by the California Military Department.

The inflation relief package builds on Governor Newsom’s nation-leading stimulus package last year to accelerate California’s economic recovery with Golden State Stimulus checks for two out of every three Californians, as well as the largest statewide renter and utility assistance program and small businesses relief program in the country.

The budget and related budget-implementing legislation signed by the Governor today include:

  • AB 178 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2022.
  • AB 180 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2021.
  • AB 181 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
  • AB 182 by the Committee on Budget – COVID-19 emergency response: Learning Recovery Emergency Fund: appropriation.
  • AB 183 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education trailer bill.
  • AB 186 by the Committee on Budget – Public health.
  • AB 192 by the Committee on Budget – Better for Families Tax Refund.
  • AB 194 by the Committee on Budget – Taxation.
  • AB 195 by the Committee on Budget – Cannabis.
  • AB 199 by the Committee on Budget – Courts.
  • AB 200 by the Committee on Budget – Public safety omnibus.
  • AB 202 by the Committee on Budget – County jail financing.
  • AB 203 by the Committee on Budget – Public resources.
  • AB 205 by the Committee on Budget – Energy. A signing message can be found here.
  • AB 210 by the Committee on Budget – Early childhood: childcare and education.
  • SB 125 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources: geothermal resources: lithium.
  • SB 130 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State employment: State Bargaining Units 5, 6, 7, and 8: agreements.
  • SB 131 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – November 8, 2022, statewide general election: ballot measures.
  • SB 132 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State employment: State Bargaining Units 16 and 18: agreements.
  • SB 184 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Health.
  • SB 187 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Human services.
  • SB 188 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Developmental services omnibus.
  • SB 189 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State Government.
  • SB 191 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Employment.
  • SB 193 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Economic development: grant programs and other financial assistance.
  • SB 196 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State employment: State Bargaining Units: agreements.
  • SB 197 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Housing.
  • SB 198 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
  • SB 201 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation: Earned Income Tax Credit: Young Child Tax Credit: Foster Youth Tax Credit.

The Governor also announced that he has signed the following bills:

  • AB 2724 by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Medi-Cal: alternate health care service plan.
  • SB 1355 by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) – Claims against the state: appropriation.

 

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