California governor, Gavin Newsom has proposed a $286.4 billion budget that will tackle Climate Change and wildfires which are part of the state’s biggest issues.
The budget sets off months of budget talks with his fellow Democrats, who control the state Legislature, before the new fiscal year begins July 1.
Newsom announced that he intends to spend $22.5 billion over the next five years to fight climate change and protect communities most at risk from changing weather patterns.
He explained that about $15 billion would go to climate-related transportation projects such as helping low-income people purchase electric cars; expanding charging infrastructure in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and helping schools buy electric buses.
The governor also proposes to release $4.2 billion in bond money for the controversial high-speed rail project that advocates say will eventually reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Recall that Assembly Democrats stalled the funding last year.
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He explained that another $2 billion would boost clean energy development and storage, along with another $465 million over three years to create new jobs and training centres for displaced oil industry workers.
“We also want to spend $750 million to improve water efficiency, limit damage to fish and wildlife, and conserve water,” he said. “We also spend $175 million on projects designed to lessen the effects of extreme heat”.
The governor also proposed a nearly 20% increase in the budget for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, after consecutive record-setting wildfire seasons the past two years.
He maintained that spending would increase from $3.1 billion approved in 2021 to $3.7 billion and add more than 1,200 new CalFire positions, adding that it would also include $400 million to be spent to improve the health of firefighters who have been on the front lines during the lengthy seasons.
“About $150 million would be spent to buy 14 new water-dropping helicopters and $35 million to buy new fire engines and bulldozers,” he said. “Another $175 million would be spent toward replacing or improving ageing fire stations and air bases, part of a 5-year plan”.
He said that CalFire’s budget would fund about a third of the proposed $1.2 billion to be spent over two years on efforts to manage forests to decrease fire risk.
