Some anti-drought programs face cuts.
But with the drought now broken by an unprecedented wet season and snow pack, it’s possible to look back and see the positives develop, especially when it comes to the state budget.
Many homeowners dealt with the stress of monitoring water usage in their homes to avoid fines and penalties, with the result that water was conserved.
It worked, mostly.
“But now we know that drought is becoming a regular occurrence and water conservation must be a part of our everyday life.” It’s also part of the 2017-18 state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Thursday is the constitutional deadline to send the budget to the governor’s desk.
The new fiscal year begins July 1 For example, money being allocated to the Department of Water Resources’ Save Our Water Campaign was cut from $2 million to $1 million in the May version of the budget and now the funding for the project may be eliminated from the budget completely.
In that moment, it seemed as if the people of California breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But what can Californians expect to see different?
“This drought emergency is over, but the next drought could be around the corner,” Brown said.