Ramos on May Revise: ‘prudence of recent years serves us well now’

SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember James Ramos (D-San Bernardino) today issued the following statement on the proposed May Revise to the 2023-24 state budget:

I am appreciative that California will meet a projected deficit of almost $32 billion without the extreme and draconian cuts of past fiscal trials. The prudence of recent years serves us well now so that as we craft a balanced budget we can continue to invest in education and other areas that will build our future and aid us in meeting current challenges despite less revenue. The revised administration budget includes $500 million for the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program and $30 million to develop a lower cost, generic version of a naloxone nasal spray which will help save lives in cases of fentanyl overdoses. I was also glad to see an additional proposed $15 million in one-time 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Funds for 2023-24. One-time funding of $12 million is also included in the May Revise to address the violence occurring against Native American youth, women and men. I look forward to working with the governor and with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on finalizing the budget in the coming weeks and to perhaps reversing current program reductions in October when we learn more about the state’s incoming revenue.

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Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district which includes the Cities of Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature. Ramos chairs the Assembly Committees on Rules.