Holden’s Funding Request for Developmental Disability Community Approved
Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget, the final agreement between the legislature and Governor Jerry Brown. Assemblymember Chris Holden released the following statement:
“After a robust negotiation process we have once again reached a budget agreement that is balanced, reflects our strong economy and increases our rainy day fund, but also protects and expands California’s progressive gains to meet the challenges we face.
Early last year, I fought to increase reimbursement rates for developmental disability service providers in cities that had minimum wage laws that outpaced the State’s. Now with a $25 million dollar increase in our budget, that would be matched with federal funds, we have $50 million dollars to keep these vital services for individuals and families living with disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities.
Homelessness continues to be one the biggest issues facing California and I am encouraged that the budget includes $500 million, $250 million above the May Revision, in one-time funding for emergency aid for local governments to respond to homelessness. In addition to these guaranteed funds, the state legislature is also working to pass Senate Bill 1206 and Senate Bill 912, that will make an additional $4 billion available to address homelessness.
After hearing from students, parents, faculty, and staff at our universities, we added an additional $105 million to the original $92.1 million ongoing increase over the current year that was presented in the May budget revision, and added a $167 million increase in one-time funding. The UCs will now receive $97.1 million in ongoing funds and $177.1 million in one-time funding.
The budget also begins to help the many California families suffering in poverty. Specifically, $90 million one-time and $360 million ongoing funds will increase CalWORKS grants to help parents feed and house their children while they work toward a better future. It also expands the Earned Income Tax Credit to ensure an additional 700,000 households can take advantage of the tax credit.
As it relates directly to the 41st Assembly District, the budget increased funding to support the Affordable Sales Program on the State Route 710 corridor in order to ensure that the sale of Caltrans surplus property is maintained as affordable housing.”
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