Sacramento, CA – Assembly Budget Vice-Chair Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) today voted against a state budget proposed by Governor Brown and legislative Democrats which increases state spending to a record level, undercuts local control of schools, and contains a number of legally questionable practices including the use of cap and trade funds to pay for high speed rail and locking in long-term spending increases.

“We had a real opportunity this year to create a state budget which embodies the lessons we learned during this past recession,” stated Assemblyman Gorell. “However, while we made some progress in agreeing to a stronger California Rainy Day fund, the majority party has failed to make education our greatest priority, and continues to waste our limited funds irresponsibly on high speed rail and entitlement programs.”

While the final budget relies on the Governor’s more realistic revenue estimates, total spending will grow by $12 billion to a record $108 billion. The budget regrettably sets the state up for significant future spending obligations, such as the proposal to increase welfare grants by five percent starting next year. It also spends money on pet projects, such as $2.7 million for a new swimming pool in Calexico and $2.5 million to remodel the old Governor’s Mansion.

On K-12 education, the Democrat budget will cap school district reserves – which could push many districts into bankruptcy and make it less likely that those students in low-performing schools will learn from a quality teacher. In 2009, school districts that had strong reserves were able to avoid devastating cuts. With their reserves now limited by this budget, they may not have enough money to stave off cuts in future economic downturns.

The budget also fails to fulfill the promise of Proposition 30, which California voters approved in 2012 to protect education. The budget uses the higher taxes from Proposition 30 that would have gone to higher education to fund social services instead. Furthermore, the budget rejects a bipartisan request to increase funding for the California State University by $95 million.