Newsom’s parting gift: A budget that delays tough California spending choices until 2027

FOLLOWING WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders on Monday approved a $352 billion budget for next year that raises some taxes, sets aside $6.4 billion for the year after and softens or delays billions of dollars in planned social service cuts.

The budget, Newsom’s last, will leave the California budget balanced for two consecutive years and reduce future year deficits significantly, state leaders say. Newsom quickly signed the budget package.