SACRAMENTO - Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) today released a statement on Gov. Newsom signing the 2019-20 California budget:

“This year's budget is fiscally responsible and makes significant investments in needed services and infrastructure across the state, including the San Gabriel Valley,” Sen. Rubio said. "As a classroom teacher in our public schools for 17 years, I am extremely proud of the record investment we have made for K-12 schools, including for special education and $10 million for English Learners, as well as community colleges, and universities.  This is all funding critical to student success.  This budget also provides increased health care subsidies for families enrolled in Covered California, and $2.4 billion to address the crisis in affordable housing and homelessness affecting all of our communities. And it cuts taxes for small businesses, which are critical to the health of our economy.  Lastly, it includes the largest reserves in history – over $19 billion.”

The Budget totals $214.8 billion, including $147.8 billion from the General Fund. The final budget contains total General Fund reserves of $19.2 billion, including $377 million in the Constitutional Prop 98 Reserve, $16.5 billion in the Constitutional Rainy Day Fund, $900 million in the Safety Net Reserve, and $1.4 billion in the Regular Reserve.

Notable facts about the budget:

• It improves the lives of California’s vital middle class:
  • Cuts taxes for small businesses by $460 million and avoids any new broad-based tax increases on the middle class. Invests record education funding for the schools, community colleges, and universities that California families and California employers depend on.
• That includes 15,000 more slots at UC and CSU and expanded CalGrants so more students have access, including those in summer classes.
  • Provides over $450 million to increase subsidies for families enrolled in Covered California who earn up to the equivalent of $150,000 for a family of four.
• It makes a substantial additional payment of $2.4 billion to address the crisis in affordable housing and homelessness affecting all of our communities.
• It cuts taxes for low-income workers by expanding the popular Earned Income Tax Credit, which results in increased spending in local businesses, including grocery stores, clothing outlets and car repair shops.