On June 16, 2015 California Governor Jerry Brown along with Senate President Pro-Tem DeLeon and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins announced an agreement on the 2015/16 State Budget. After months of hearings and proposals the final California State Budget reflects a compromise which pays down debt, provides additional resources for a rainy day fund and introduces a Low Income Tax Credit. The budget provides an increase of $14 Billion in new significant investment in California’s K-12 Education System.
The California Legislature with leadership from the California Legislative Women’s Caucus were successful in securing $265 Million in additional investments above the Governor’s May Proposals to provide:
Rate Increases:
- 5 % increase to the Standard Reimbursement Rate for State Contracted Child Development Centers effective July 1, 2015
- 4.5% increase in the Regional Market Rates paid to all providers in the Alternative Payment and CalWORKs programs based on their current rates effective October 1, 2015
Slots:
- 6800 additional Alternative Payment Program slots effective July 1, 2015
- 5830 Prop. 98 funded full day state preschool beginning January 1, 2016
- 1200 part-day state preschool beginning January 1, 2016
Additional details are still emerging about the agreements. The Legislature is expected to vote on the plan by the end of the week. Governor Brown has until June 30 to sign the budget.