California’s already lofty state budget surplus reached a new high of $97.5 billion, and the budget itself grew to a record $300 billion in spending as Governor Newsom released his administration’s revisions to its 2022-23 budget proposal on May 13. What impacts will these big numbers have on the Sierra Nevada? Will there be more funding and opportunity for state investment be coming our way? 

The news from Sacramento on Friday was mixed for the Sierra. While the state has made impressive initial investments in climate resiliency programs in recent years, including wildfire prevention, the so-called “May Revise” focused more heavily on shoring up reserves and one-time spending than longer-term investments in landscape restoration and rural community well-being. $18.1 billion is proposed for direct inflation relief to California taxpayers, along with infrastructure spending that targets the state’s top priorities including transportation, broadband, drought response and homelessness, as well as additional funding for CAL FIRE as the agency faces what most certainly will be a difficult year of firefighting. While these proposals will benefit us in the Sierra, SBC and its partner organizations were disappointed that no additional resources were directed for wildfire resilience and forest health.  

A more promising proposal emerged from the legislature, though. State Senate leaders unveiled a spending package that heavily invests in climate adaptation and mitigation, including wildfire and forest resilience. The Senate’s “Putting Wealth to Work” proposal would invest $6.6 billion over five years in wildfire resilience as part of a comprehensive $18 billion climate funding package that supports other SBC priorities such as California’s 30x 30 conservation initiative.