BUDGET UPDATE: LAWMAKERS TAKE $1 BILLION FROM FIRST 5
PUBLISHED ON FIRST 5 LA (HTTP://WWW.FIRST5LA.ORG)
17 August 2011 - The state Legislature on Wednesday agreed to take $1 billion in funding from California's First 5 commissions - a controversial move that prevents voters from deciding whether Proposition 10 funds may be used to help fill the state's budget gap.
Both the state Assembly and Senate passed AB 99 [1] with the two-thirds vote they say allows them to circumvent placing the fund grab on the ballot in June. The bill authorizes the redirection of $50 million from First 5 California, the state Proposition 10 Commission, and $950 million from First 5 county commissions, including First 5 LA, which stands to lose the most funding: $424 million, according to the State Department of Finance. Excluded from this requirement are county commissions receiving less than $600,000 in annual revenues from the Proposition 10 tobacco tax. The legislation, which is part of the state budget package, requires Gov. Jerry Brown's approval.
Legislators' approval of the funding grab could have dire consequences for children's programs supported by First 5 Commissions. Contrary to earlier assurances from