For Immediate Release: January 11, 2024
Contact: Tyler Bushnell, tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org

SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, Governor Newsom released his 2024-25 state budget proposal which forecasts a roughly $38 billion budget deficit, resulting from several factors that have led to declining state revenues. 

The proposed budget outlines a mixture of cuts, deferrals, use of reserves, and various other tools to address the deficit and balance the budget. In the face of these tough fiscal circumstances, the proposed budget does maintain funding for many essential programs that protect our state’s most vulnerable populations and communities. However, there are cuts to critical programs in the environmental and economic equity areas that are of concern. The budget proposal also does not include funding for the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to implement the Corporate Climate Accountability Package (SB 253 and SB 261) – first-in-the-nation corporate climate disclosure reporting bills. Further the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), an important and highly subscribed food assistance program, was completely cut from the state budget, leaving many low-income and underserved families at risk of higher food insecurity.

Given the program implementation challenges and harmful impacts to vulnerable populations that budget deficits present, NextGen California understands that now more than ever we must remain committed to our equity and justice mission and that we must work with the Governor, the State Legislature, and our partners to sustain funding for critical programs that provide healthy school meals to students, increase access to healthcare, support our K-12 education system, and improve workforce training and economic mobility opportunities. We will also continue our strong advocacy for investments to combat climate change, reform our criminal justice system, expand digital equity, and create more pathways to higher education.

Statement from NextGen California Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr.:

“Despite the significant budget deficit, the Governor’s budget proposal does maintain funding to many core programs that support our state’s most vulnerable populations and communities. But clearly, there are program cuts and deferrals that will cause harm to these same communities – communities that are at the heart of the NextGen equity and justice mission.,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen California. “Even in the face of tough budget times, we must remain strong advocates for equity-centered solutions to address key issues such as California’s Climate Commitment, higher education affordability, digital equity, school meal availability, healthcare affordability, and criminal justice reform. On behalf of the entire NextGen California team, we look forward to continuing our work with the Legislature, the Governor, and our partnership network to create a more prosperous, inclusive, and climate-resilient California for all.”

Statement from NextGen California Senior Policy Advisor, Dave Weiskopf:

“We are heartened to see that the Governor is working to maintain as much as possible of his historic $54 billion California Climate Commitment,” said Dave Weiskopf, Senior Policy Advisor for NextGen California. “But, the climate crisis and the corporations who are causing it will not pause while we wait for another budget surplus, and neither can we. During difficult budget times, it is critically important that our state maintain its global climate leadership. NextGen California is looking forward to working with leaders in Sacramento to enact a final budget that makes good on our climate commitments. As we more closely analyze this proposal, we will be looking for ways the state can align every taxpayer dollar with meeting our climate goals and implement game changing legislation like the corporate climate disclosure framework from SB 253 and SB 261.”

Statement from NextGen California Program Manager & Policy Advisor, Arturo Juarez:

“We are very happy to see Governor Newsom’s proposed investment of $1.5 billion General Fund dollars over the next two years to complete the development of the statewide middle-mile network (MMBI),” said Arturo Juarez, Program Manager & Policy Advisor Advisor for NextGen California. “This investment in California’s least connected, highest poverty communities has the potential to make a tremendous economic impact as we work to close the Digital Divide in our state. We thank the Governor for his commitment to the completion of this critical effort, and look forward to working with his office and the Legislature to get this done.”

Statement from NextGen California Research & Policy Advisor, Tiffany Germain:

“We are grateful to Governor Newsom for not only maintaining, but increasing ongoing investments to our first-in-the-nation School Meals for All program which is projected to serve more than 845 million free meals next year,” said Tiffany Germain, Research & Policy Advisor for NextGen California. “School Meals for All remains a critical part of our state’s infrastructure in reducing food insecurity among students. And while we understand this is a difficult budget year, we are concerned about the $33.9 million proposed reduction to the $35 million included in the 23-24 budget for the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) that encourages the purchase of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. CNIP funding makes such a direct impact on reducing food insecurity in our state, and will be working with the administration and the legislature to try and protect the crucial CNIP program.”

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The mission of NextGen California is to fight for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequities in California through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.