This Thursday, California lawmakers passes the state budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The budget, in the form of Assembly Bill 107, fills a state-reported deficit of $46.9 billion for the fiscal year and an expected $29.8 billion deficit for years 2025-26.
The passed budget reduces the budget for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation by about $1 billion. The budget instead provides another $1 billion for housing and homelessness programs.
The budget cuts $75 million from veterans housing while adding $1.1 billion of funding for the non-existent high-speed rail project.
Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and chair of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee was very enthusiastic about the budget. Wiener said he was proud the state was providing health care funding for everyone, including illegal immigrants. He concluded it was important to cut funds from public safety and stated cutting $1 billion from CDCR was necessary as the inmate population has been reduced.
Republicans like Assemblymember Bill Essayli, of Corona, slammed the budget. He said Democrats claim to support public safety, but then enact cuts to corrections and trial courtrooms. “It is no wonder that Californians are fleeing this state,” he said. “This body is out of touch. This budget is out of control.”
Now, California lawmakers must work with Newsom on a final version, with a potential final vote happening next week.
Budget is cyclical and for law enforcement. It will swing towards increasing when the populous gets tired of crimes.