January 9, 2021 – SACRAMENTO – On Friday, Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) issued the next assertion in response to the Governor’s preliminary Fiscal 12 months 2021-22 Finances rollout:
“The financial restoration package deal proposed by the Governor, particularly the almost $1 billion in small enterprise grants, are a step in the fitting path. Nevertheless, it could ship a stronger message if small companies have been prioritized over the $1.5 billion funding in electrical automobiles within the midst of financial devastation,” stated Senator Borgeas.
“California’s small companies have sustained heavy losses through the COVID-19 pandemic, and a extra strong capital funding is required within the Governor’s finances to maintain our economic system going,” added Borgeas. “That’s the reason 43 legislators within the Senate and Meeting (over one-third of the Legislature) are supporting the bipartisan Preserve California Working Act, which might make investments $2.6 billion in grants for small companies and nonprofits. I look ahead to working with the Governor and Legislative management to get this much-needed reduction by means of the Legislature in a considerate but expedited trend.”
The Preserve California Working Act, often known as Senate Invoice 74, is joint-authored by Senator Andreas Borgeas and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), and has Principal Co-authorship from Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Seashore). SB 74 has not solely garnered significant media attention forward of the Governor’s finances announcement, however has attracted the support of economic development leaders all through California recognizing the necessity for quick small enterprise funding.
A number of the financial growth leaders behind the invoice embody the California Restaurant Affiliation (CRA), United Chamber Advocacy Community (UCAN), California Constructing Trade Affiliation (CBIA), Nationwide Federation Impartial Companies (NFIB), California Affiliation of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), and lots of others.
Legislative Analyst’s Workplace (LAO) Recommends Extra
Whereas SB 74 proposes $2.6 billion in financial reduction, a report revealed by the LAO titled The 2021-22 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook recommends that “…the Legislature use the opposite half the windfall – about $13 billion – on one-time functions, specializing in actions that mitigate the antagonistic financial and well being penalties of the general public well being emergency.”
Borgeas Responds to Gadgets in Governor’s Finances
Secure Reopening of Colleges
“As a father of two elementary college kids, I can’t stress sufficient the significance of returning to protected in-person instruction. I admire the Governor’s file $85 billion funding in California’s faculties, with $2 billion devoted to prioritizing protected in-person instruction and $4.6 billion devoted to prolonged educational time. This may make up for misplaced time in Ok-12 faculties in 2020. Moreover, the almost $500 million funding in instructor preparation and $1.5 billion in particular schooling are constructive steps in establishing California’s subsequent technology of leaders.”
COVID-19, Healthcare, and Frontline Employees
“California’s healthcare staff have risen to satisfy unimaginable challenges all through the period of the pandemic. The Governor’s $4.4 billion emergency response funding in testing, contact tracing and vaccines is a constructive step in getting California’s economic system again on observe and a return to normalcy.”
Agriculture
“As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I admire the Governor’s standalone funding in California’s agricultural sector by allocating $384.6 million to help farmers and growers with technical help and regulatory adjustments. On the similar time, California leaders should reevaluate the timing of sure regulatory applications funded within the finances and guarantee they aren’t impediments to our agricultural sector, as many farmers are struggling as a result of pandemic. California leaders should additionally contemplate investing in water infrastructure and conveyance with a view to ship clear water to our state’s farms and communities. Lastly, the $50 million in one-time help within the 2021-22 Finances for California’s festivals is essential because of pandemic challenges.”
Wildfire Resiliency and Emergency Response
“The 2020 wildfire season wreaked havoc on California’s forests and communities, particularly the Creek Hearth in Fresno and Madera Counties that precipitated huge devastation. I admire the Governor’s $143.3 million funding in including extra fireplace crews, and $48 million in air help. As well as, California wants to take care of its deal with forest administration efforts and contemplate enacting California Environmental High quality Act (CEQA) streamlining for municipalities looking for to create defensible areas with a view to shield California’s most weak communities. The $847 million funding in forest resiliency and gasoline break creation is an efficient step, however these investments have to be maintained in future budgets.”
Tenant and Landlord Aid
“Whereas I admire the funding in reduction for California’s most weak tenants, California leaders ought to pursue a balanced strategy and should present reduction for housing suppliers and small landlords.”
Supply: Senator Andreas Borgeas
