Several California lawmakers on Tuesday signaled they’re concerned Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to wait until May to sort out some of the state’s biggest money issues.The problem was front and center in the California Assembly Budget Committee’s first hearing of the year. Earlier this month, the governor rolled out the first version of his proposed state spending plan that banks on the stock market’s upswing to keep the state’s cash situation afloat. The governor expects a manageable budget shortfall of about $3 billion, which he plans to mostly fill with the state’s reserves. But the plan leaves major gaps in information, including his plan to try to backfill lost federal funds through H.R. 1 and how he plans to address major deficits that could leave the state short tens of billions of dollars over the next few years. The governor has said he’ll wait until May to provide specific solutions, which is when his next update is required under state law and when California has a clearer picture of its finances weeks before the new state spending plan goes into effect. This didn’t appear to sit well with the panel on Tuesday. “If the governor is intending to propose significant solutions to balance out your shortfalls, I think it’s really important that we have the opportunity to have conversations about this prior to the May revise so they can get the public vetting they deserve so that we can hear from impacted stakeholders,” said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, who leads the Assembly’s Budget Committee. Newsom’s Department of Finance Official Erika Li replied, “The sooner the better.” Other lawmakers echoed Gabriel’s statement, including Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-La Palma. “We need the sooner the conversations, not the later,” she said. “Please, allow us to be part of this, it’s not just the governor’s budget,” Quirk-Silva told Newsom’s Department of Finance. The governor’s spending plan is more optimistic than that of California’s independent top fiscal analyst, Legislative Analyst Gabe Petek. Petek pointed to the likelihood of an economic downturn within the next year and said he could not “in good conscience” advise lawmakers to adopt a budget based on the governor’s assumptions. “Even in May, if things are looking good, that doesn’t mean we’re in the all clear,” Petek told lawmakers Tuesday. “I really don’t think it’s ideal to wait until May if we’re going to have to make big, difficult decisions.” “I want to share the optimism of the administration,” said Assemblyman Nick Schultz, D-Burbank. “I think we should be conservative with those revenue projections. I think we should be relying on the assessment, just personally, because I do have concerns with the health of the stock market.” Other concerns raised in the hearing revolved around the lack of funds for food assistance, housing and homelessness, and wildfires. Assemblyman Chris Rogers, D- Sonoma, said the governor, during his State of the State speech, made a “nebulous reference” to a wildfire fund to help communities recover. Li confirmed the fund is not included in the governor’s latest budget. Li said the governor hopes to work with lawmakers to come up with “creative” funding strategies for the fund “for something that’s potentially in the May revision.” Tuesday’s hearing was the first of dozens of budget-related hearings happening at the State Capitol this year. KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Several California lawmakers on Tuesday signaled they’re concerned Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to wait until May to sort out some of the state’s biggest money issues.

The problem was front and center in the California Assembly Budget Committee’s first hearing of the year.

Earlier this month, the governor rolled out the first version of his proposed state spending plan that banks on the stock market’s upswing to keep the state’s cash situation afloat. The governor expects a manageable budget shortfall of about $3 billion, which he plans to mostly fill with the state’s reserves.

But the plan leaves major gaps in information, including his plan to try to backfill lost federal funds through H.R. 1 and how he plans to address major deficits that could leave the state short tens of billions of dollars over the next few years.

The governor has said he’ll wait until May to provide specific solutions, which is when his next update is required under state law and when California has a clearer picture of its finances weeks before the new state spending plan goes into effect.

This didn’t appear to sit well with the panel on Tuesday.

“If the governor is intending to propose significant solutions to balance out your shortfalls, I think it’s really important that we have the opportunity to have conversations about this prior to the May revise so they can get the public vetting they deserve so that we can hear from impacted stakeholders,” said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, who leads the Assembly’s Budget Committee.

Newsom’s Department of Finance Official Erika Li replied, “The sooner the better.”

Other lawmakers echoed Gabriel’s statement, including Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-La Palma.

“We need the sooner the conversations, not the later,” she said.

“Please, allow us to be part of this, it’s not just the governor’s budget,” Quirk-Silva told Newsom’s Department of Finance.

The governor’s spending plan is more optimistic than that of California’s independent top fiscal analyst, Legislative Analyst Gabe Petek. Petek pointed to the likelihood of an economic downturn within the next year and said he could not “in good conscience” advise lawmakers to adopt a budget based on the governor’s assumptions.

“Even in May, if things are looking good, that doesn’t mean we’re in the all clear,” Petek told lawmakers Tuesday. “I really don’t think it’s ideal to wait until May if we’re going to have to make big, difficult decisions.”

“I want to share the optimism of the administration,” said Assemblyman Nick Schultz, D-Burbank. “I think we should be conservative with those revenue projections. I think we should be relying on the [Legislative Analyst’s Office] assessment, just personally, because I do have concerns with the health of the stock market.”

Other concerns raised in the hearing revolved around the lack of funds for food assistance, housing and homelessness, and wildfires.

Assemblyman Chris Rogers, D- Sonoma, said the governor, during his State of the State speech, made a “nebulous reference” to a wildfire fund to help communities recover. Li confirmed the fund is not included in the governor’s latest budget.

Li said the governor hopes to work with lawmakers to come up with “creative” funding strategies for the fund “for something that’s potentially in the May revision.”

Tuesday’s hearing was the first of dozens of budget-related hearings happening at the State Capitol this year.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.