California Has a Spending Problem
This isn't about raising or lowering taxes. It's not a Republican or Democrat issue.
Smarter fiscal policy means tax dollars go further to help Californians in need and solve problems.
Most Californians see the state's budget crisis as a problem.
The Problem
California's budget doubled in size over the last decade.
The state's annual spending grew from $167 billion in 2015 to $321 billion in 2025.
California is spending more money than ever.
But our problems are getting worse.
Something is wrong.
Despite the state doubling its total annual spending over the last 10 years:
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Homelessness increased by 60% in California.
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Home prices nearly doubled from $475,000 in 2015 to $909,000 in 2025.
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60% of third-graders in the state can't read or write at grade level.
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K-12 education ranks 38th in the nation, behind Mississippi and Louisiana.
When lawmakers don't track spending well and
whether government programs are working,
tax dollars are wasted and problems are not solved.
In 2024, California conducted its first-ever large-scale audit of state homelessness programs.
California spent $24B over five years on homeless programs, but didn't consistently track outcomes.
The audit found that a majority of state homelessness programs were likely ineffective.
Californians in need are not helped when money is wasted.
We need to track outcomes to fund programs that work.
And stop programs that are not working.
The Solution
This election, vote for candidates who will fix problems, not just spend our tax dollars.
Ask your State Senator and Assemblymember if they have a plan to track spending and outcomes better.
Hold elected officials accountable for how they spend your money, and call for more transparency.
If we spend our tax dollars in smarter ways, we can solve our greatest challenges and see results soon.
Join our movement to build a better path forward
where results matter more than politics.
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