California lawmakers finalize $321 billion budget amid housing and environmental debates
Originally Published 6 months ago — by CalMatters
The California budget deal for 2025-26 masks a significant structural deficit caused by years of overspending and accounting tricks, with officials blaming external factors like federal tariffs, while actually relying on payment deferrals, loans, and reserves to cover ongoing fiscal shortfalls, raising concerns about long-term fiscal health and transparency.