California Is Considering Ending Criminal Court Fees and Wiping Out Billions in Debt

[displacedtexan]

1. We can afford it. Easily.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a $213.5 billion state government spending plan that boosts spending on homelessness, wildfire prevention and K-12 education.

His proposal announced Thursday is up $4.5 billion from his first budget plan released in January.

It includes a $21.5 billion surplus that is unchanged from January but remains the largest surplus in at least 20 years.

He now hands the proposal to state lawmakers, who must pass a budget by June 15 or lose pay.

The Democratic governor's proposal puts $15 billion toward state reserves and paying down debt, up $1.4 billion from January.

Newsom has added about $150 million in grants to local governments to deal with homelessness, calling the problem "a stain on the state."

He's added $40 million to deal with wildfires and natural disasters.

https://www.kron4.com/news/california/governor-newsom-to-reveal-updated-spending-plan/1992384433