TOGETHER Advocacy: 2023-2024 State Budget Success
When the Governor issued his proposed budget this January, we knew that the multi-billion dollar revenue loss in California would mean cuts for all departments and agencies across the state. However, the initial proposal disproportionally cut funding for the State Coastal Conservancy, whose grants support nearly 80% of our members. Our Policy Committee got to work: We wrote letters to our representatives supporting SCC funding and we organized two TOGETHER in Sacramento days to meet with our reps in person, build relationships, and share the importance of the projects that the SCC funds.
Last week, the Legislature passed a budget (SB 101) with restored funding for the SCC––restored to this year’s budget, which featured previously unprecedented funding. We urged the Governor to sign it: read our Mercury News op-ed here and see some of our social media campaign here.
This week, as part of a budget deal, Governor Newsom signed SB101, the 2023–2024 State Budget. Part of the budget deal between the Legislature and Administration includes SB 102, which amends the signed 2023-2024 State Budget to include approximately $150 million more for State Coastal Conservancy. Woo hoo!
There are a lot of moving pieces on this year’s budget, and we’re still doing some analysis, but what we see is huge funding for your projects and programs. It’s clear that our advocacy matters, and just as importantly, that our work matters. Thank you for everything you’re doing, from all the ways you’re advocating for your work to the work itself.
