This week the Legislature began holding public hearings to review
the Governor’s May Revision Budget. With the condensed
Legislative timelines, the Budget Subcommittees are doing their
best to fully examine the proposed investments and cuts laid out
in the Governor’s 172 page
summary. In addition to their internal review, the
Legislature has made an asserted effort to hear from the all
parties that will be impacted by what the Legislature approves by
June 15.
CSAC has completed our initial reviews and has grave concerns
about the impact this budget will have on the daily work our
counties are required to do. Following our review, CSAC and 10
county affiliate organizations requested state assistance to
support 1991 and 2011 Realignment and the critical county public
health, human services, behavioral health, and public safety
services administered by counties on the state’s behalf in a
letter to the Administration and Legislature. CSAC is acutely
aware of the substantial fiscal shortfalls the state and counties
are facing and plan to work in partnership with the
Administration and Legislature to fine-tune efficiencies and make
tough decisions that are required of government. What CSAC has
concluded is that these tough decisions should not fall heavily
on the programs and services that impact the most vulnerable
Californians.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 convened Monday and
Tuesday of this week. The subcommittee meetings, chaired by
Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula, provided CSAC with the first
opportunity to publicly express county concerns with the proposed
budget. CSAC pointed out the impacts to the many programs that
the Legislature worked to expand in the last few Legislative
cycles. In addition to our public testimony, we submitted written
testimony on the areas that raise the highest alarms in both the
health and
human services areas.
CSAC will continue to report on the May Revision process and the
on-the-ground impacts in the upcoming weeks.
