The Latest: Republicans endorse fiscal prudence in budget
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal (all times local):
10:50 a.m.
Republicans in the California Legislature are generally praising Gov. Jerry Brown’s fiscal prudence in the budget proposal released Friday.
Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle of Bieber says California should focus on paying down state debts, building rainy-day reserves and preparing the state’s infrastructure for the future.
They’re also reminding Californians of one of their political touchpoints this June: the passage of a statewide gas tax, which they’re hoping to repeal.
Republican Assemblyman Jay Obernolte of Hesperia says the budget shows there was no need for a gas tax, since California has a surplus of more than $8 billion.
The Democratic governor is proposing to set aside $13 billion in the state’s rainy day fund.
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10:30 a.m.
Gov. Jerry Brown says it’s easy to get “giddy” over California’s projected budget surplus, but says he’s determined to leave the most responsible fiscal condition he can for his successor.
The proposed spending plan Brown released Friday would set aside $13 billion in California’s rainy day fund for the next recession.
He says he’s committed to fully funding the state’s rainy day fund to weather what he says will be a coming economic storm.
The Democratic governor wants to save most of the surplus to protect spending during a future recession. But he proposed spending more for homeless Californians, state buildings, mental health and schools.
Legislative Democrats and outside interest groups are pushing to boost funding for health care, higher education, welfare, child care and a wide variety of other initiatives.
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10:15 a.m.
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed a $137.6 billion general fund budget for California as revenues continue to surge.
Brown released his spending plan Friday, kicking off his last round of negotiations with Democratic legislative leaders.
Brown’s latest budget is up nearly $6 billion from his earlier proposal in January. The Democratic governor wants to save most of the surplus to protect spending during a future recession. But he proposed $2 billion for infrastructure, including universities, courts, state facilities and flood control and $359 million for homelessness.
He’s also still pushing for a new online community college to train working adults who don’t have the time and flexibility for a traditional college program.
Legislative Democrats and outside interest groups are pushing to boost funding for health care, higher education, welfare, child care and a wide variety of other initiatives.
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12 a.m.:
California Gov. Jerry Brown is preparing to release his last state budget proposal.
His revised spending plan to be published Friday will kick off a month of negotiations with the Legislature about how to spend a growing budget surplus.
The Democratic governor last pegged the surplus at $6.1 billion in January and proposed spending almost none of it. He preferred to direct all but $300 million to reserves.
Since then, revenue during the busy April tax-filing season came in even higher than expected.
Brown has consistently warned that California is riding a wave of economic growth and the budgetary good times will eventually end. But he’s facing pressure to increase funding on a wide variety of legislative priorities including higher education, child care and firefighting.
