Calif. To Spend Nearly $233B During Fiscal Year 2013-2014

California is expected to spend nearly $233 billion during fiscal year 2013-2014, but that total could change as income and expenditures fluctuate, according to a report by state Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports (Walters, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 7/30).

Background on Budget Plan

Last month, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law a FY 2013-2014 spending plan.

The approved budget calls for:

• $206 million to improve mental health care services, including $142 million in one-time general fund money in the coming fiscal year;
• $51 million in non-general fund money in the coming fiscal year and about $150 million the following fiscal year to boost grants for CalWORKS, California's welfare-to-work program; and
• $16.9 million in general fund money in the coming fiscal year and $77 million the following fiscal year to help partially restore Denti-Cal benefits for adults.

Denti-Cal is the Medi-Cal dental program.

The plan also includes an 8% cut to In-Home Supportive Services providers and an additional $206 million to develop 25 mobile crisis support teams and provide 2,000 or more beds in local treatment centers for individuals with mental health problems (California Healthline, 6/28).

Details of Report

According to the Taylor's report, the state will spend $232.9 billion during FY 2013-2014 if officials closely follow the approved budget.

However, the report notes that state revenues are about $2.3 billion higher than the budget's estimates, which could affect potential mid-year increases in health care and welfare spending, among other things ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 7/30).

A final version of the report -- which will reflect budget-related actions that take place through the end of the state's legislative session -- will be released this fall (Legislative Analyst's report, July 2013).