Statewide — California lawmakers have approved a $351.7 billion state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year that preserves funding for housing, education, child care and environmental initiatives while maintaining investments that could have significant implications for Inland Valley residents.
The spending plan, approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, seeks to balance continued investments in core public services with fiscal restraint amid uncertainty over potential federal funding reductions.
Legislative leaders said the budget protects programs serving vulnerable Californians while maintaining record reserves and avoiding a projected deficit.
For Inland Valley communities, the budget includes funding for affordable housing, homelessness programs, public education, environmental protection and child care which are priorities that local leaders say are particularly important in a region facing housing shortages, poor air quality and growing infrastructure demands.
State Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, whose district includes portions of San Bernardino County, said the spending plan reflects months of negotiations aimed at protecting essential services while investing in long-term community health.
“Every budget is a reflection of our values and our priorities,” Gómez Reyes said in a statement following legislative approval of the budget.
Gómez Reyes, who chairs the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy, said environmental investments remain especially important for Inland Empire communities that have long struggled with air pollution from heavy truck traffic, warehouses and regional transportation corridors.
“As someone who has spent my life in the Inland Empire, I know that environmental investments are about far more than protecting our natural resources,” she said. “They’re about the air our children breathe, the health of our communities and the quality of life we leave to future generations.”
According to the California Senate, the budget maintains funding for the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, CalFood food assistance, victims’ services and immigration legal aid while investing in K-12 education and expanding access to child care.
Lawmakers said the budget will add 22,770 child care spaces during the coming fiscal year, bringing California closer to its long-term expansion goals.
The budget also continues funding for In-Home Supportive Services by rejecting proposed reductions to the program, which assists older adults and people with disabilities who wish to remain in their homes rather than enter institutional care.
Newsom said the budget demonstrates that California can continue investing in public services while maintaining fiscal discipline.
“A balanced budget isn’t an end in itself, it’s how we deliver for Californians,” Newsom said in announcing the agreement.
The governor said the spending plan protects the state’s fiscal strength while continuing investments in education, housing, health care and other priorities.
For Black residents of the Inland Valley, several provisions address issues that community leaders have identified as longstanding concerns, including housing affordability, environmental justice, educational opportunity and access to health care.
Inland Empire communities continue to experience some of California’s highest freight-related air pollution levels while also confronting persistent shortages of affordable housing.
Gómez Reyes said the budget invests in “the building blocks of healthy communities,” including higher education, affordable housing, workforce development, health care, child care, developmental services, public safety and cleaner transportation.
She acknowledged that lawmakers faced difficult fiscal decisions while crafting the spending plan.
“No budget is ever perfect, especially during challenging fiscal times,” Gómez Reyes said. “Every budget requires difficult choices and thoughtful compromise.”
