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Dollars & Democracy: An Introduction to California’s State Budget Process is an introductory training slide deck that breaks down how California’s state budget works. Designed to be clear, engaging, and accessible, this slide deck explains the fundamentals of the state budget, the rules that shape the process, the key decision-makers involved, and the advocacy opportunities available at each stage of the budget cycle. This training is designed for advocates, community organizers, students, journalists, and anyone looking to better understand how California’s budget decisions are made.

The Budget Center’s essential resources for understanding and navigating the California state budget — all in one place.

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COVID-19 has changed jobs, schools, and child care settings for Californians, and this has been particularly disruptive for children, families, and the child care providers who are essential to California’s economy and communities. In this presentation learn what funding early care and education programs received in the 2020-21 state budget and from federal relief in 2020, and the additional support providers, workers, and families – particularly Californians of color and families in low-income households – still need from state and federal policymakers in the ongoing pandemic.

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As California grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been essential workers in hospitals, grocery stores, agricultural fields, and many other core services that have helped ensure the health and safety of our communities. But essential workers can’t go to work – no matter how vital their jobs – without a safe space for their children to learn and grow. This presentation by Senior Policy Analyst Kristin Schumacher covers research on the state’s essential workers, industries, and occupations – conducted in partnership with the UC Berkeley Labor Center. You’ll also learn how many children in California had parents who were considered essential workers and the number of children who were income-eligible for subsidized care with parents working in essential jobs.

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The Budget Center hosted a special briefing event on the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), a refundable state tax credit modeled after the federal EITC that helps people who earn little from their jobs afford basic necessities. As part of our Policy Perspectives Speakers Series, this event discussed Governor Gavin Newsom’s plans in the 2019-20 state budget proposal to significantly expand the CalEITC.

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The Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) is a policy advocacy and leadership training fellowship for cisgender and transgender women, genderqueer and non-binary people, and transgender men who want to build their skills to influence public policymaking at the state level. Executive Director Chris Hoene presented to the WPI on the state and local budget processes.

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Many women across California face significant barriers to advancing economically and achieving financial security. As part of the California Budget & Policy Center’s “Policy Perspectives Speakers Series,” we discussed these barriers during a webinar.

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This Budget Center event included a briefing on Governor Jerry Brown’s May Revision to his proposed 2018-19 budget followed by a panel discussion on how public policies can help promote economic security in our state.

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For the California Child Development Administrators Association’s “Analysis of the Governor’s 2017-18 Budget Proposal May Revise,” Senior Policy Analyst Kristin Schumacher discussed what the May Revision means for California’s child care and development system.

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