Senator Dutton Calls 2005-06 Budget ‘Workable’

County and Cities in 31st District to receive millions in full VLF payback

Calling it a “workable” budget, Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) joined 33 other senators in approving the $117 billion 2005-06 state budget today.

The budget, passed seven days after the start of the fiscal year, was approved in the Senate by a 34-4 vote. It also passed the State Assembly by a 65-13 vote. It now goes to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature.

This is a budget where both Republicans and Democrats had to make concessions,” Senator Dutton said. “The result is a document that we can all live with and that’s why I call this year’s budget ‘workable.’” Notably, Senator Dutton pointed out that this year’s budget once again holds the line on raising taxes.

California is already one of the most taxed states in the nation and past budgets have proven that you can’t tax your way out of a spending problem,” Senator Dutton said. “Not only are there no new taxes in this budget, but this compromise reinstates two tax credits for senior citizens.”

Two other important elements in this year’s budget that Senator Dutton said was key in him voting for the spending plan was the decision to make transportation funding a priority by fully funding Proposition 42 to the tune of $1.3 billion. The budget also includes paying back counties and cities more than $1.2 billion in Vehicle License Fee backfill payments after the illegal tripling of the car tax was reversed by Governor Schwarzenegger in December 2003. This budget pays that money back to counties and cities more than a year early.

Anyone who has driven our roads, highways and freeways knows that major improvements must be made to relieve some of the congestion we all face when we get into our vehicles,” Senator Dutton said. “Spending the $1.3 billion on transportation, as required by the voter-approved Proposition 42, will not only help relieve congestion but improve safety on our highways.

I’m also pleased to see that counties and cities are going to be paid back early,” Senator Dutton continued. “As a former city councilman I know how important it is for the cities and counties to get this money to fund the many projects they support in their communities.”

Senator Dutton also points out that this budget increases education spending by $3 billion. That increase means the state will spend more than $10,000 per pupil for students attending K-12 schools in California. The budget is also good news for the more than 2 million students who attend junior college in California as fees will not be increased.

This budget is another step in solving a multi-year problem that was created because of several bad budgets passed by the previous administration,” Senator Dutton said. “Last year’s budget was a stop gap budget to keep us from going further into debt. This year’s compromise budget reduces the debt that will help make California fiscally sound.

Next year’s (the 2006-07) budget will be another difficult year but this budget compromise puts us in a much better position to address next year’s budget shortfall,” Senator Dutton continued. “However, I’m hoping to see real structural reform in the 2006-07 budget to ensure that we never again have to face the fiscal crisis we’ve had to endure these past three years.”

As part of the VLF payback to counties and cities, the following is the amount each county and city in the 31st Senate District will receive:

• San Bernardino County - $37,599,365
  
  
• Big Bear Lake - $99,573
  
  
• Colton - $851,442
  
  
• Grand Terrace - $205,013
  
  
• Highland - $803,979
  
  
• Loma Linda - $341,451
  
  
• Rancho Cucamonga - $2,487,057
  
  
• Redlands - $1,146,380
  
  
• San Bernardino - $3,291,748
  
  
• Upland - $1,217,8545
  
  
• Yucaipa - $770,064
  
  
• Yucca Valley - $304,654
  
  
• Riverside County - $34,985,431
  
  
• City of Riverside - $4,647,501