What they're saying: Local reaction to the May budget revise

The Bakersfield Californian
2 min read
4

“California’s budget situation is a mess. I have said repeatedly that budget gimmicks, cost shifts and more borrowing only creates more problems in the future.

“Using budget reserves to prop up unsustainable spending is not only unwise, it’s fiscally irresponsible.

“Contrary to the governor’s rhetoric, the gas tax has increased 43% increase since he has been in office. His lack of action has resulted in California drivers paying an average of $5.30 per gallon when the national average is $3.63.

“The governor proposed a $30 million tax increase on farmers and consumers, which will result in higher prices for every day products.

“The governor is also breaking his promise to provide $500 million for additional water storage facilities. Without this funding, Californians will again be at the mercy of unstable water supplies.

“As Governor Newsom continues to burden the state economy with onerous regulations, unworkable mandates, and skyrocketing costs — California’s budgetary challenges will remain and worsen.

“Californians are tired of paying more and getting less. This budget proposal only places more unsustainable costs on hardworking taxpayers.”

— Vince Fong, vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee

•••

“We are grateful to Gov. Newsom and his administration for maintaining our core funding during a difficult budget year. The May Revise provides stability for community colleges to meet the goals of the system’s strategic framework, Vision 2030, and the governor’s Roadmap for Community Colleges, by investing in critical workforce training initiatives, such as nursing. It seeks to expand credit for prior learning, which helps students get academic credit for the skills and knowledge they have previously acquired.

"The budget proposal also supports our system’s demonstration projects to speed up analytics and data transfer, which will enhance student support and success, as well as advancement of electronic transcripts to improve students’ access to and transmittal of transcripts.

"The plan prioritizes critical support for serving low-income workers by creating career paths to higher wages and careers to help ease income disparities. We look forward to working with the administration and the Legislature to ensure that the final budget reflects the needs of our students and our workforce.”

— California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian

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