Monday, January 10, 2022 - 4:19pm By The Leader Staff

Rudy Salas

Assemblyman Rudy Salas, Kings County’s representative in Sacramento, this week released a statement on the Governor’s historic 2022-2023 state budget proposal. According to Salas, January’s budget draft includes billions to strengthen public safety and combat theft, build water infrastructure to combat the drought, invest in workforce development in rural communities, fight COVID-19, grow the state’s rainy-day fund, and more.

All of which he indicates is good for the San Joaquin Valley.

“I am pleased to see the historic levels of investment coming to the Central Valley that will build long-term water infrastructure, strengthen our local law enforcement and their response to theft, and grow our economy with more workforce development,” said Salas. “These investments, in addition to our expansion of the state’s COVID-19 response and $20.9 billion in our rainy-day fund will help California continue as a strong economic powerhouse.”

Some highlights from the 2022-2023 state budget proposal include:

COVID-19 Response

$2.7 billion to ramp up vaccines, boosters, statewide testing, and increase medical personnel to meet potential surges.$1.2 billion to increase testing throughout the state.
$614 million to increase healthcare staff, particularly at vaccination sites.
$200 million to increase staffing and tech capacity at state emergency response and public health agencies.

Wins for the Central Valley

$102 billion for K-12 schools throughout California with the highest per-pupil spending in history.
$20.9 billion in California’s “Rainy Day Fund.”
$5.2 billion over three years to support immediate drought response and long-term water resilience, including funding to support clean drinking water, water recycling and groundwater clean-up, and water conveyance projects.
$2 billion for combatting homelessness, increasing mental health housing, services, and clearing encampments.
$1.7 billion to expand the state's health and human services workforce, including training more nurses, social workers, emergency medical technicians, behavioral health care providers, and community health care workers.
$1.2 billion to fight and prevent wildfires, including 20 new fire crews.
$250 million for Central Valley workforce development.
$500 million in tax relief for small businesses.
$285 million for grants to bolster local law enforcement response to organized retail theft crime, as well as to assist local prosecutors in holding perpetrators accountable.
$233 million for the new CSU Bakersfield Energy Innovation Center.