California Budget

Commentary

California’s lagging economy hinders efforts to close state budget deficit

As California Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators contend with a deficit-ridden state budget, they can't count on a booming economy.

By Dan Walters • May 17, 2024

Capitol

California’s staggering budget deficit squashes hundreds of bills

The state's multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the 'suspense file' hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees.

By Alexei Koseff and Sameea Kamal • May 16, 2024

Commentary

How California’s bursting budget morphed into a $45 billion deficit in just two years

A massive miscalculation in revenue forecasting allowed California Gov. Gavin Newsom to boast of a $97.5 budget surplus that ultimately never materialized. It has since become a $44.9 billion deficit.

By Dan Walters • May 16, 2024

Higher Education

Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal ditches promise to fund 5 years of growth for UC and Cal State

The latest version of the budget cuts funding by a combined $200 million for the state’s two public university systems.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • May 15, 2024

Technology

Gavin Newsom plans to cut $2 billion in public broadband projects

The proposed cuts could jeopardize plans to build the largest public broadband network in the United States.

By Khari Johnson • May 15, 2024

Mental Health

Newsom releases billions for mental health housing ahead of schedule: ‘Time to deliver’

California voters narrowly passed Proposition 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom's measure to fund mental health housing. He's prodding counties to use the money quickly.

By Jocelyn Wiener • May 15, 2024

Commentary

Newsom’s proposed spending cuts spur backlash from affected California groups

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing nearly $34 billion in spending cuts over a two-year span to close a massive budget deficit. Those affected are unhappy.

By Dan Walters • May 14, 2024

Justice

California is spending more on fewer inmates. Why isn’t Newsom closing more prisons?

Gov. Gavin Newsom is recommending small cuts to the state prison system, avoiding the closures of additional facilities.

By Nigel Duara • May 11, 2024

Higher Education

Financial aid for California students takes a hit in Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal

In Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget, he proposed significant cuts to the Middle Class Scholarship, which provides financial aid to more than 300,000 students. He also signaled that he won’t expand the Cal Grant program, a plan that was based on adequate funding in the state budget.

By Adam Echelman • May 10, 2024

Housing

Amid deficit, Newsom proposes California spend less to solve homelessness and create affordable housing

Faced with a multibillion dollar budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget proposal includes hundreds of millions of dollars in additional cuts to housing and homelessness programs.

By Marisa Kendall and Ben Christopher • May 10, 2024