Perez Proposes California Budget Outline

California Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, has proposed a "blueprint for a responsible budget" that includes a reserve and a rainy day fund.

The proposal comes just ahead of the release of Gov. Jerry Brown's May Revise budget next week that typically starts the homestretch of fiscal discussions as the end of the fiscal year nears in June.

"A rebounding economy, years of difficult cuts approved by legislative Democrats, and the voters trusting state leaders with a majority-vote budget and a temporary tax increase have brought the state to budget stability," Perez said in a statement. "We must now maintain that stability while pivoting to strengthen our state, avoid mistakes of the past, and minimize the devastating impacts economic downturns can have on our budget and the people of California.

Perez's blueprint would pay down the state's debt, provide a reserve, and a rainy day fund to help support the budget during downturns.

The proposed rainy-day fund would go on the statewide ballot next year, according to the Sacramento Bee.

He also wants to strengthen the middle class and deliver "effective, efficient services" to residents.

Perez said his proposals may be "outside Democrats' traditional comfort zone."

Since Democrats won supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, giving them the power to increase taxes without GOP votes, critics have speculated that they would increase spending and possibly increase fees and taxes.

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