As economy booms, schools, community colleges can expect modest increase in Newsom’s first budget
Early Edge CA Executive Director, Patricia Lozano was quoted in an EdSource article regarding Legislative Analyst’s Office projections for Prop. 98 and the General Fund and their impact on Newsom’s first budget.
While the Legislative Analyst’s Office is forecasting that community colleges and schools will have less than they received for several years in Prop. 98 funds, it is projecting that there will be $14.8 billion surplus next year in the General Fund. The analyst’s office estimates that the General Fund surplus is “extraordinary,” by historical standards.
Advocates for finding money for one of Newsom’s top education priorities — child care and expansion of preschool — may be heartened by the projection for the overall General Fund budget, which Newsom could use to pay for more early education programs.
“Patricia Lozano, executive director of the child advocacy organization Early Edge California, seized on that possibility in an email, urging state leaders “to act now by prioritizing quality child care and early learning opportunities in their general fund spending decisions.”
“We know that lawmakers will be considering putting away money in the Rainy-Day Fund to save for the next recession but the time to act is now. With a $14.8 billion surplus, our state leaders have the resources to put California’s families first,” she wrote.”
This story also appeared in: San Jose Mercury News.