CA lawmakers found money for these pet projects despite $12 billion budget deficit, report finds

"Despite facing a $12 billion deficit this year, California's Legislature still managed to spend at least $415 million for local projects to help lawmakers win their next elections. CalMatters found close to 100 earmarks inserted into just one of the state's budget bills for local projects and programs that had little apparent benefit to anyone outside the lawmakers' districts. Some of the earmarks raise concerns about legislative priorities in a difficult budget year, such as lawmakers spending millions from the general fund on museums, trails, parks and other amenities in wealthy communities."

"Around $250 million of the local-project earmarks were funds taken from the $10 billion Proposition 4 climate bond California voters approved last year. RELATED: What is Prop 4? $10 billion bond pays for long list of CA climate change projects Some of the Prop. 4 earmarks included: 1. $26 million to programs paying farmers for private land conservation. 2. $20 million to help the public access a Southern California beach gated off by a wealthy community. 3. $15 million for "geologic heritage sites" including the La Brea Tar Pits - whose fossils have been used to study climate change in the last epoch."

California faces a $12 billion deficit while lawmakers approved at least $415 million in local earmarks, with close to 100 projects inserted into a single budget bill. Many earmarks appear targeted to individual districts and include funding for museums, trails, parks and amenities in wealthy communities. Specific allocations include $5 million for an LGBTQ+ venue in San Francisco, $2.5 million for a private day school, and $250,000 for a private farm-animal rescue. Approximately $250 million came from the $10 billion Proposition 4 climate bond, including $26 million for payments to farmers for private land conservation, $20 million to improve public access to a gated Southern California beach, and $15 million for geologic heritage sites such as the La Brea Tar Pits. Earmarks were approved while some state worker positions remained unfilled, certain health benefits were suspended, raises were foregone, high-interest bond money filled budget gaps, and funds were drawn from the state's rainy-day reserve.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco