San Mateo Daily Journal
By Austin Walsh
Local officials largely appreciated a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom to ramp up investment in the state school system, though some identified room for improvement in the spending plan.
Newsom laid out his annual budget revision Friday, May 14, which featured $93.7 billion for public education, amounting to $36 billion more than last year and $17.7 billion more than the governor’s last estimate in January. The increased investment is possible through a $76 billion surplus.
The additional money could go to expanding access to prekindergarten and after-school programs, while also directing billions more into pandemic relief programs and a variety of other initiatives.
… For his part, State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, also acknowledged Newsom’s vision to spend more on the state school system.
“This plan will help our families, our small businesses, the unhoused; invest in our kids, especially their growth and education; and address critical elements of our lives and livelihoods in the Golden State,” he said.