The $96.4 billion revised budget proposal that Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled May 14 increases spending for the California Department of Food and Agriculture after several years of cuts. The governor’s proposed $61.9 million general fund allocation to CDFA is unchanged from the rosy fiscal outlook he presented in January, and the ledger sets aside $2.5 million for research to combat the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening.
"That comes through assessment dollars on a larger citrus crop than was expected," agency spokesman Jay Van Rein said. The proposal for fiscal 2013-2014 represents a slight increase for CDFA from the $60.3 million the department received for the current fiscal year. The agency’s overall budget for 2013-2014 is projected at $215.2 million, up slightly from the January ledger. The agency would keep all of its roughly 1,975 employees, including the nearly 1,270 in its agricultural plant and animal health, pest prevention and food safety services. Read More