California's Budget Includes $60m+ In Funding for Central Coast
News courtesy of Monterey County Herald, Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom
Last Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $308 billion state budget that provides direct tax refunds for 23 million Californians to help address rising costs, creates new investments in climate resiliency and clean energy infrastructure, as well as in addressing homelessness, transforming education and building reserves.
Included is more than $60 million for projects on the Central Coast — including a shelter for homeless women in Monterey, $2.5 million for the construction of the SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit bus corridor project in Marina and water infrastructure projects for the region. State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced more than $15 million to finalize the purchase of Watsonville Community Hospital and retain it as a not-for-profit, community-centered healthcare facility in a medically underserved region with vulnerable populations. Along with a $10 million funding request from Assemblyman Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, a total of $25 million is in the state budget to buy the facility from bankruptcy court.
Other key elements of the budget:
Climate commitment: $53.9 billion in new investments to better protect Californians from the impacts of extreme weather, including investments in fire protection and drought response while forging an oil-free future.
$170 billion to continue transforming education: $7.9 billion to help with learning recovery, more investments in higher education, an additional $2 billion for affordable student housing, and $3.5 billion that schools can use on arts, music, and more.
$1.95 billion for Emergency Rental Assistance: The budget provides additional funds to ensure qualified low-income tenants who requested rental assistance before March 31 get the support they need.
Accelerating the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition: An additional $6.1 billion to expand ZEV access and affordability and support the build-out of infrastructure across the state.
Bolstering our Energy System: Allocates $4.3 billion to support energy reliability, provides relief to ratepayers, creates strategic energy reserves and accelerates clean energy projects. Allocates an additional $3.8 billion for clean energy projects to boost affordability and reliability.
$14.8 billion for regional transit, rail and ports projects to support the continued development of clean transportation projects, including California’s first-in-the-nation high-speed rail system and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Additional $3.4 billion General Fund over two years to build on last year’s $12 billion multi-year investment by continuing progress on expanding behavioral health housing, encampment cleanup grants and support for local government efforts.