SACRAMENTO – The California Budget & Policy Center, a nonpartisan public policy research group, issued the following statement from Executive Director Chris Hoene in response to this morning’s release of Governor Jerry Brown’s revised 2017-18 budget:
“The Governor’s revised budget makes some improvements over what he proposed in January, though this year’s budget debate moves forward amid great uncertainty as to potential federal actions.
“We’re glad to see that the Governor no longer proposes to put on hold the plans included in last year’s budget agreement to continue reinvesting in subsidized child care and preschool, especially given the huge unmet need in this system as well as the high cost of care facing families in our state. Also, it’s a positive step that the Governor proposes to offset a large portion of the In-Home Supportive Services program costs that are being shifted to counties.
“As the Governor and the Legislature work toward a budget agreement in the coming weeks, they’ll do so amid continuing, and in many ways troubling, uncertainty about the fate of federal funding. On that front, it’s critical that California’s Congressional delegation do all it can to protect the social safety net, preserve recent years’ gains in health care coverage, and generally ensure that federal budget and policy choices provide the necessary support to communities in California and elsewhere.
“Meanwhile, we hope that state policymakers put together a final budget package that reflects greater long-term investment in broadening economic opportunity. Expanding the California Earned Income Tax Credit and increasing funding for outreach, boosting support for affordable housing, and strengthening the state’s welfare-to-work program are some ways to help more Californians share in the state’s economic gains.”
The California Budget & Policy Center, in addition to releasing its “first look” analysis of the May Revision in the coming days, will hold a webinar briefing on its analysis: Friday, May 19, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Register for the webinar.
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The California Budget & Policy Center engages in independent fiscal and policy analysis and public education with the goal of improving public policies affecting the economic and social well-being of low- and middle-income Californians. Support for the Budget Center comes from foundation grants, subscriptions, and individual contributions
