June 22, 2024

California State Association of Counties CEO Graham Knaus issued the following statement on the three party agreement between the Governor, Senate and Assembly on 2024-25 state budget.

“The final budget agreement protects the public services that counties deliver and that matter most to Californians. We thank the Governor and legislature for advancing California values by funding critical solutions to homelessness and delivering on our shared commitment at the local and state level to protect our most vulnerable community members.

“Despite this year’s challenging budget environment, the Governor and legislature sided with county priorities on a number of critical issues, including: minimizing cuts to safety net programs like CalWORKs, providing local governments $1 billion to combat the homelessness crisis by maintaining Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program – the most effective program to address homelessness, maintaining funding for broadband access, backfilling lost federal funds for the victims of crime act program and much more.

“Much work remains to be done and California’s 58 counties stand ready to continue the critical work of serving as the primary provider of state programs in local communities.”