(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) released the following statement regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s 2017-18 state budget proposal.
“Today’s budget is a solid first step towards continuing to pay down our debts and ensuring our future fiscal solvency. The Governor has been cautious in his revenue projections, and it is important that we maintain our responsible spending and not place future generations of Californians at risk. I applaud the proposed increases in funding towards education and healthcare, but I am concerned about the proposed cuts to the Middle Class Scholarship, transportation and affordable housing.
“The Middle Class Scholarship reduces fees for middle class students by up to 40%. We should not abolish the Scholarship and risk raising costs for California students by up to $20,000 when tuition at our state universities and colleges is at an all-time high. Ensuring qualified California students are admitted to and can afford our public universities is a critical step forward in addressing access to affordable higher education.
“The Governor’s transportation infrastructure proposal is a step in the right direction, but as residents of the East Bay know, the scale of the issue facing our state is going to require significantly more work on behalf of the legislature. Residents of the East Bay have seen the cost of living spike in recent years, and now is the time to provide incentives to increase the inventory of working-wage housing, not eliminate funding that could promote affordable housing.
“As Mayor and Councilman of Concord, I made paying down our debt and addressing our unfunded liabilities a top priority. I support the Governor’s efforts to continue the prudence that has improved our state’s fiscal health in recent years. We do not know what actual revenues for 2017-18 will be, and it is my hope that we will have significantly more favorable budget predictions this spring. I look forward to working with the Governor, and my colleagues in the Legislature to craft a budget that is fiscally responsible and meets the needs of the people of California.”
To read Governor Brown’s 2017-2018 State Budget proposal, visit www.dof.ca.gov.
Tim Grayson represents the 14th Assembly District that includes the communities of Benicia, Concord, Clayton, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Vallejo, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek For more information please visit the Assemblymember’s website, www.assembly.ca.gov/a14.