Sacramento, CA – Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire issued a statement in response to Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revision released this morning: 

“Today’s revise takes a commonsense approach and focuses on the current fiscal challenges by limiting and reducing spending, strengthening reserves and paying down pension liabilities.” 

“And, we can’t stop investing in the programs and priorities that will strengthen the lives of Californians in every corner of this state. This includes funding as promised to combat our homelessness crisis, build thousands of workforce affordable housing units, tackle our climate crisis and make communities more wildfire safe and record dollars for our kids and public schools,” said Senator McGuire.

Senator McGuire has also been fighting for three Sonoma County school districts most impacted by the devastating 2019 Kinkade Fire. Two years of reduced property tax revenue due to the Kincade Fire, totaling $632,000, has now been included in this year’s proposed budget to backfill funding for students and critical programs at Alexander Valley Union, Healdsburg Unified, and Geyserville Unified school districts.

The Kincade Fire burned approximately 78,000 acres and destroyed a total of 374 structures. The reduced property tax revenue for the three districts over two years resulted in $632,000 in lost funds.

“These vital disaster-relief dollars have been desperately needed and this $632,000 will help countless students in Northern Sonoma County thrive. We’re grateful to the Governor and the School District teams for working with us on this critical tax backfill program,” said Senator McGuire. 

McGuire has been an outspoken leader in the Legislature on increasing funding for our public schools and kids. Since taking office in 2015, per-student spending in California’s schools has more than doubled, from $8,931 to $23,706. This is now the highest state education per-student funding in the history of California.

“We’re continuing to invest in California’s future, even during these tight budget times. I look forward to working closely with Pro Tem Atkins, the Legislature and Governor Newsom to get a balanced budget across the finish line in the coming weeks,” Senator McGuire.

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