Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday handed what health care advocates and supporters of people with special needs called a status quo budget proposal for the next fiscal year, with no new investments or restoration of funding to programs that help California’s most vulnerable.
Citing a potential future recession that could deplete the Golden State’s now robust surplus, Brown’s $122.6 billion general fund spending plan for 2016-17 offers a fiscally safe proposal that was praised by some lawmakers for its cautiousness but also left those within some sectors disappointed. The budget also includes a $3.6 billion surplus.
“Given the wide disparities that exist in our state and the millions who struggle in one form or another, understandably there will be proposals to fund a variety of worthwhile programs,” Brown said in a statement to state legislators. Read more.