FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

06-01-11 845AM

SB 15 (DeSaulnier & Wolk) was approved by the California Senate today with a unanimous vote. The measure would provide for a multi-year approach to state budgeting, instead of dealing with only one year at a time, as is currently the process.

“It is time to deal with the structural dysfunctions that envelope the budget process in Sacramento,” said Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D – Concord). “Budgeting one year at a time just doesn’t make sense. California families budget for the future in anticipation of the costs of college tuition and retirement, and businesses do so to grow and remain competitive. Our government needs to budget for the future as well.”

SB 15 requires the following:

• That the governor’s office improve fiscal planning by producing a budget for the current year and the next fiscal year as well as provide projections of revenue and expenditures for the next five years.

• The use of performance standards and projections of one-time revenues.

• An estimate of the long-term impacts the proposed budget makes on the state’s economy.

• If the governor’s budget proposes a new state program or agency, the proposal would be required to identify how it will be paid for. This would also apply to a proposal to create or expand a program or agency or to reduce revenue.

SB 15 is co-sponsored by California Forward and State Controller John Chiang and will be sent to the State Assembly for consideration.

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