Information on Governor’s January Budget Proposal
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To Our Community:
On January 9, 2025, Governor Newsom released his proposed state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on July 1, 2026. Full details and a summary are posted on the Department of Finance website.
While you may have read that California is projecting a budget deficit of around $2.9 billion, RCOC is cautiously optimistic that funding for services for people with developmental disabilities and their families will be protected.
California’s population of persons served by the developmental services system is expected to grow by nearly 38,000 additional individuals in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and the Governor proposes to fund the costs associated with this increase.
The details for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) portion of the proposed budget are on the DDS website.
While the Governor’s budget proposal is only the first step in the process, we are encouraged at his recognition that funding services and supports provided by regional centers is vital to the lives of adults and children with developmental disabilities.
However, it is important to remember that the Governor’s budget proposal is just the beginning of the annual budget process.
Next will come hearings by the Legislature, and negotiations between the Legislature and Governor that conclude with the State Legislature passing a budget bill and the Governor signing the budget agreement by June 30, 2026.
RCOC will continue our advocacy on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, doing everything in our power to ensure the people and families we serve continue to have access to essential supports and services.