Sen. Dodd Issues Statement on Approval of Legislative Budget Plan

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding the California state budget agreement approved by the Senate and Assembly that will be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom:

“While it’s always includes difficult decisions to close a budget deficit, this is a responsible budget that protects key priorities in education, public safety and the environment while addressing revenue shortfalls through reserves and prudent belt-tightening,” Sen. Dodd said. “This budget underscores the value of our past fiscal planning in enabling us to continue delivering essential services and make investments in our future, but it also highlights the need to do even better in the future when we have surpluses. The Legislature will be working with Governor Newsom to ensure we have a final budget agreement signed before July 1.”

The Legislature’s budget totals $211 billion and includes a safety net reserve of $23 billion. It balances a $45 billion revenue shortfall in the current year and a $30 billion gap in 2025. Program reductions are the primary solution although it also employs spending delays and shifts. It adopts Gov. Newsom’s proposed 7.95% reduction to nearly all state departments for a savings of more than $2 billion. However, it increases funding for education and restores proposed cuts for social services, health and housing.

Among the budget’s highlights are:

• $1.85 billion for K-12 education including a 1.07% cost-of-living adjustment for various programs including foster youth, American Indian early childhood education and special education. 
• $240 million base increase to the California State University system allocation; $227 million base increase to University of California
• $50 million for higher education student housing projects at Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College and Imperial Valley College.
• $199 million to Cal Fire to add 338 firefighting positions
• $1 billion for homelessness housing assistance
• $500 million for supplemental low-income tax credits
• $1.75 billion over two years for middle-mile broadband improvements

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Senator Bill Dodd represents Senate District 3, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.