By Assemblyman Phil Ting–
I know a lot of you are hurting because the dollar isn’t going as far as it used to these days. From gasoline to groceries, global inflation is weighing on the cost of living.
As Assembly Budget Chairman, I am proud to report that relief is on the way for most Californians, thanks to the just-passed state budget, which includes approximately $9.5 billions of dollars in tax refunds. The Franchise Tax Board should start sending payments in October based on your 2020 tax returns. Estimate your refund on this site: https://tinyurl.com/yhfu23rp
For incomes below $75,000, individuals would receive $350, while couples earning less than $150,000 would receive $700. Having at least one dependent would add another $350, bringing the maximum reimbursement to $1,050. Rebates decrease as income reaches higher tax brackets.
For those on Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), many will see their previously approved grant increases take effect next year, rather than 2024. For Individuals , their grants will be about $39 more per month, while couples see an additional $100 per month.
California’s historic budget also includes significant investments that prepare our state well for the future:
- Health care: Guarantees access to abortion and reproductive services; addresses health epidemics with funding for the syphilis and congenital syphilis crisis, as well as the elimination of hepatitis B; opens Medi-Cal to Californians eligible for all incomes, regardless of immigration status by January 1, 2024;
- Housing/homelessness: build more affordable housing; assists homeless veterans and their families; strengthen legal aid programs to prevent evictions; opens transitional housing with clinical support for people who are homeless and have serious mental illness;
- Social safety net: Increases CalWorks subsidies by 21% and allows single parents participating in the program to also keep their child support payments; and extends CalFresh food assistance to undocumented immigrants age 55 and older;
- Help for small businesses: Reimburses small businesses for the increased cost of unemployment insurance; short-term suspension of part of the sales tax on diesel; and offsets the costs of the additional paid sick leave program;
- Transportation: Progress on the high-speed train; improves public transit and intercity rail; expands safe walking and cycling options; create a Highways to Boulevards pilot program to connect communities divided by highways, creating well-paying jobs;
- Climate change: Keep pushing to have more zero-emission vehicles on our roads; strengthens forest fire resilience and drought response; and prepares for sea level rise;
- Teaching TK-12: Provides a record 13% increase in funding for all public schools; strengthens the free universal school meals program, continues to help students recover from learning loss caused by the pandemic, and initiates projects to upgrade or build new school facilities, including education centers of early childhood ;
- Higher Education: Increases funding across all UC, CSU, and community college campuses; accelerate the construction of student accommodation; and advances the goal of a “debt-free college” by expanding CalGrant aid and middle-class scholarships.
I’m also happy to report that the state budget includes $5.5 million for the LGBTQ Museum of San Francisco. It is important to preserve history and amplify voices in our ongoing fight for equality.
Additionally, I have joined my legislative colleagues in advocating for additional federal and state funding as soon as possible to scale up our response to the monkeypox outbreak with more vaccines, testing, treatments, and education.
I am proud of this budget, which also provides more than $37 billion in reserves to help us through a possible economic downtown. I look forward to seeing the impact of our investments.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes Westside San Francisco and parts of South San Francisco as well as the communities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City.
Posted on July 28, 2022
