Governor Gavin Newsom introduced his budget proposal last week. Although the spending plan will likely look very different when it passes in June, at least one social services advocate feels relieved.
Adrienne Shilton with the California Alliance of Child and Family Services said she’s encouraged by the budget.
“Last year, we would be having a very different conversation about what we were seeing in the budget,” she said.
Her organization mostly works with low-income families and kids in the foster care system. Shilton says she spent the last year pushing to keep programs going — like a hotline to help caretakers of foster youth deescalate situations.
Shilton said this budget calls for fewer cuts to the social programs she works with.
Still, she was disappointed by the lack of funds to keep agencies that serve foster youth and families insured, which could force some to close.
“There's a lot at stake, and we didn't see anything in the budget related to that, she said.
The spending plan is still far from the finish line — it will see months of debate and public comment in the California legislature before Newsom’s revised proposal is unveiled in May.
Wildfire damage in Los Angeles and proposed cuts to federal funding from the Trump Administration could also impact where state leaders decide to allocate money.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today
