Newsom’s Budget will Delay $100M for Downtown Fresno, Dyer Responds

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) Fuzzy math. That’s how many are interpreting Governor Newsom’s budget proposal which was released this week.

One month ago, the state’s independent budget analyst said California faced a $68 Billion deficit. But, on Wednesday, Newsom’s budget proposal assumed the deficit to be a hair under $30 Billion. Huh? How did $38 Billion suddenly disappear from the books?

How did the Governor come to that conclusion? He’s mostly riding on the hope of that the stock market soars into the stratosphere this year.

Now, we’ve come to learn that as part of his budget plans include delaying payments to Fresno for a massive improvement project in downtown and Chinatown.

Last year, the state pledged $250 Million for the downtown Fresno revitalization. $50 Million in 2024, $100 Million in 2025 and another $100 Million in ’26.

Most of the funds are slated to be spent on two new parking structures, sidewalks, sewer, and water lines.

The budget summery reads: “To address the projected budget shortfall, the Budget proposes General Fund solutions to achieve a balanced budget,”…“These include: A delay of $100 million General Fund for the City of Fresno’s Public Infrastructure plan. The 2023 Budget Act included $250 million General Fund to support the development of downtown Fresno. The Budget maintains $50 million in 2023-24 for this purpose and delays the remaining $200 million General Fund by one year, resulting in $100 million being available in 2025-26 and 2026-27.”