NEWSOM FOCUS ON CLIMATE CRISIS IS WELCOME

With state finance officials predicting a staggering $45.7 billion surplus in the fiscal year that starts July 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature have the opportunity to make ambitious moves to tackle the Golden State’s biggest problems. That’s just what Newsom did with the $286.4 billion spending plan he unveiled this week, which established five priorities for new spending: responding to climate change, COVID-19, homelessness, inequality and rising crime.

On the first issue, Newsom offers a broad package of measures. He wants to use $648 milllion to increase the helicopters and bulldozers needed by firefighters during a climate-emergency-driven drought. He also wants to add $1.2 billion to the $1.5 billion allocated last year to improve forest management and remove the dead trees that fuel infernos, and to improve defensible space in high-risk areas by helping homeowners and communities with the cost of retrofitting structures. Given that all eight of the largest wildfires in state history have occurred since 2017, these are good ideas.

In September, Newsom signed a measure that outlines $5.2 billion in spending over three years to deal with the ongoing drought. Despite recent rains, the drought has left state water supplies at slightly lower levels than last winter. That’s why the governor’s new budget calls for devoting $750 million more for water conservation programs, financial aid for water agencies and grants that would allow farmers to modify their operations to reduce water use.

Newsom is also addressing the climate emergency by reducing vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, the largest in-state source of such emissions. He wants to spend $6.1 billion to accelerate the change in school-bus fleets to electric vehicles and incentivize the same transition in commercial trucks. California should lead the U.S. on the switch.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board will keep looking at Newsom’s budget. Even with a huge surplus, spending decisions should be smart and prudent. If you have a concern, let us know.