What’s Our State Surplus, Really. Checking In On The Budget

Last week Governor Newsom touted that due to federal aid and the state’s surplus, the government would be able to foot the bill for a “$100 billion California Comeback Plan,” part of California’s $276 billion budget. 

But the Legislative Analyst’s Office has a different take on the numbers, putting the surplus at $38 billion. That’s because Newsom is defining “surplus” differently and it does raise questions about the budget. So, what’s in it? What issues and political motivations are driving Newsom’s budget? And why is there a discrepancy in the surplus estimation?

Guests: 

Gabe Petek, legislative budget analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office; he tweets @gpetek

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent and co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast at the San Francisco NPR affiliate KQED; she tweets @mlagos

Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets @DanCALmatters

Last week Governor Newsom touted that due to federal aid and the state’s surplus, the government would be able to foot the bill for a “$100 billion California Comeback Plan,” part of California’s $276 billion budget. 

But the Legislative Analyst’s Office has a different take on the numbers, putting the surplus at $38 billion. That’s because Newsom is defining “surplus” differently and it does raise questions about the budget. So, what’s in it? What issues and political motivations are driving Newsom’s budget? And why is there a discrepancy in the surplus estimation?

Guests: 

Gabe Petek, legislative budget analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office; he tweets @gpetek

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent and co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast at the San Francisco NPR affiliate KQED; she tweets @mlagos

Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets @DanCALmatters