SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) released the following statement after the Governor signed the legislative version of the 2023-24 state budget. A summary of the budget is viewable here.

“The Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a state budget with significant funding beneficial to the Central Valley, while also preserving $37 billion in the state’s rainy day fund”, said Senator Melissa Hurtado.

“During the May budget revise, I led a delegation of Senators to tour the floods devastating the Tulare Basin and surrounding communities, which helped build legislative support for budget funding to aid flood recovery efforts, specifically $290 million to support emergency preparedness and recovery for flood prone communities. I remain committed to ensuring that every household and flood victim has equal opportunity to recover from the devastation caused by these floods. In addition to funding for issues I am presently working on such as food and water security, the budget responds to emerging issues like cybersecurity and emissions reductions in the agricultural sector, I was proud to advocate for funding in the budget for the following items in the district,” 

In addition to funding for flood response and recovery previously noted the 2023-24 budget provides the following district specific budget wins: 

·         $5,000,000 for the City of McFarland for a new police station.

·         $1,000,000 for the City of Hanford for Hanford Fire Department to purchase fire engine.

·         $1,000,000 for the City of Avenal for public safety equipment and roof repairs of the police department and Veterans Hall.

·         $1,000,000 for the City of Tulare for Tulare Fire Department fire engine replacement.

·         $5,000,000 to the City of Wasco Police Department, for the City of Wasco Police Station

·         $350,000 for the City of Kingsburg for a new fire ladder truck.

·         $350,000 for the City of Orange Cove for a planning study for a new fire station.

·         $1,000,000 for the County of Tulare for road paving in unincorporated communities.

·         $1,000,000 to Kings Community Action Organization Food Bank and Housing

·         $10,500,000, for the Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force in Kern County

·         $500,000 to the County of Kern – Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, for the Kern County Fentanyl Awareness Campaign.

·         $500,000 to the County of Tulare, for the Tulare County Homeless Housing.

Senator Melissa Hurtado currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties. Hurtado is Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, and a member of the Environmental Quality, Health, Human Services, and Natural Resources and Water Committees, and Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.

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