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18 OUR YUCAIPA | AUGUST 2016 Record Budget Spends More, But Fixes Less 5% Military Discount (former & current members) Ask for the Jarhead! 909-965-8404 Since 1985 Licensed & Insured DON'S TREE SERVICE • Ornamental Beautification of Trees • Preventative Maintenance from Wind Destruction • Correct Pruning, Trimming Skills • Tree Removals, Stump Grinding • Tree Planting/Transplanting In June, the legislature fulfilled its constitutional obligation to pass next year's record $122.5 billion state budget. Like every budget, it funds core programs such as education,.but overall, it still continues a trend of government growth and spending. At this pace, according to estimates from the governor's office, California will see deficits return in less than four years. Instead of adequately paying for our roads and highways, this budget focused on other areas such as $1.7 billion on high-speed rail and allocating $1.3 billion for state office buildings in Sacramento. At the same time, the majority party voted to increase the vehicle registration fee on Californians by $331 million to expand bureaucracy. They also approved imposing $140 million in fees on Californians, like you and me, to pay for things such as unlimited texting and data plans and spend millions more on welfare cash cards for drug felons. The bottom line is that the budget spends more while fixing less and it is decisions like these that have resulted in the largest budget in the 166-year- history of our state. And while many have claimed the spending plan is "balanced," California's fiscal situation is far from it. The Mercatus Center at George Mason University recently ranked California the 44th state for fiscal strength, largely because of its debt. By growing government, this budget risks the financial future of California at the expense of taxpayers and continues to leave a wall of state and local debt that the State Treasurer has estimated at $1.5 trillion. Our duty is to provide our children and grandchildren with opportunity, not debt. We need to foster an environment where families and businesses can thrive. Our work is cut out for us, evidenced by the fact that in 22 of the last 25 years, California saw more people move away to other states, rather than come here. Budgets are about priorities and this one misses the mark. As experts like the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst have cautioned, moving in an unsustainable direction will only make budget situations down the road more difficult when the economy inevitably takes another hit. We cannot budget with eyes only on the here-and-now. We must also look to and prepare for what lies ahead. Senator Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, represents the 23rd District in the State Senate which includes portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. By Senator Mike Morrell

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