Legislators Reduce First 5 Funding Grab

Gov. Jerry Brown's original budget proposal called for redirecting $1 billion in First 5 funding away from local programs in 2011, as well as 50 percent in new Proposition 10 revenues every year thereafter. Despite approving the $1 billion redirection in 2011, lawmakers balked at diverting half of all future Proposition 10 revenue. The proposed diversion of future revenues would have permanently crippled early childhood programs across the state and devastated local communities.

Assembly committee members also deviated from the proposal by recommending the elimination of the First 5 California Commission. The state Commission oversees a public education campaign that includes advertising, public relations and grassroots outreach. The proposed state First 5 Commission elimination could produce $89 million in annual savings for the state.

Both committees adopted most of the other budget proposals, with some revisions on both sides. The Senate passed a version of the budget that includes $12.7 billion in cuts, $12 billion in revenues and $3 billion in other solutions. The Assembly version includes a similar level of expenditure reductions and revenues, but proposes only $2.2 billion in other solutions.

Selected lawmakers convened for a conference committee last week to hammer out the differences between the Assembly and Senate budgets. Once completed, the final version will be presented to both houses for a floor vote.

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