Staff Reports
Governor Gavin Newsom proudly announced that he signed his final state budget and called it “on time, balanced, and structurally sound through June of 2028.” That sounds tidy — until you peel back the glossy press release and find the accounting tricks, one‑time fixes, and a nonpartisan report that says otherwise. If “fiscal discipline” means papering over real problems with reserves and political spin, then sure, Newsom nailed it.
Balanced on paper; not on the books
Newsom’s claim that California will have a “zero‑dollar deficit” for the next two years depends on one‑time measures. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office projects structural deficits — roughly $10 billion a year — starting now and lasting through the rest of the decade. In plain English: the state’s budget only looks balanced because it’s borrowing from savings and playing short‑term accounting games. That isn’t discipline. It’s delaying the bill for someone else to pay.
One‑time tricks, long‑term pain
Reports say the budget relies on big withdrawals from rainy‑day reserves — about $20 billion — and other one‑off moves. That can paper over a gap this year, but it leaves the next governor with fewer options and a bigger headache. Meanwhile Californians keep paying the highest taxes in the nation, costs keep rising, and businesses quietly leave. If “doing big things” means draining reserves while promising the world, voters deserve to know the real cost.
“Big things” that don’t add up
Newsom talks about building “great things” for Californians, but his own message didn’t list finished projects or measurable wins. What many residents see instead are the failed high‑speed rail boondoggle, outsize homelessness, and scandals over Medicaid and fraud payouts. You can have generous programs and grand promises, but without measurable results — test scores, fiscal stability, controlled costs — the bragging is hollow. It’s political theater dressed as accomplishment.
Don’t buy the spin
Call this what it is: a farewell speech dressed up as fiscal virtue. The next governor should prioritize structural fixes, not one‑time handouts. That means reining in spending, fixing runaway costs, restoring honest accounting, and demanding results from programs that cost taxpayers billions. Californians deserve real fiscal discipline — not a glossy press release and empty slogans. If Newsom wants credit, he should leave behind a budget that balances without gimmicks. Until then, his claim rings hollow.
