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Caltrans seeks $25 million to restart Clean California grants; LAO says proposal should be rejected
Summary
Caltrans asked the committee for $25 million in general fund to establish a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program focused on litter and graffiti cleanup with workforce development; the Legislative Analyst's Office recommended rejecting the new general fund proposal as not a core state responsibility.
At the March 1, 2025 informational hearing, the California Department of Transportation requested a $25 million increase in ongoing general fund operating expenses to establish the Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program.
"The new program builds upon the successes of the limited term general funded program, the Clean California program," said Steven Keck of Caltrans, describing a grants program to support litter and graffiti pickup in public spaces while creating workforce development pathways for vulnerable populations.
Frank Jimenez of the Legislative Analyst's Office recommended the Legislature reject the proposal. "Given the limited general fund available, the legislature should have a high bar in approving any new general fund spending," Jimenez said, adding that local litter abatement "doesn't represent a core state responsibility" and that one‑time funding is unlikely to fix persistent local problems.
Benjamin Pollack of the Department of Finance defended the program's value, noting the potential to leverage local matching funds and to maintain community engagement and pride.
Members questioned the state role and trade‑offs with other priorities. Assemblymember Tim Connolly and others echoed LAO concerns that in a tight budget year the Legislature should prioritize core state responsibilities, including highway maintenance, and weigh the program against other needs.
Public commenters who addressed the item urged support for the program's job creation component. Ryan Souza of Rediff, a venture philanthropy partner, said the Back to Work model has provided stable jobs and services and that cutting crews has led to job losses. "In previous years, Back to Work had a base funding of about $40,000,000 and was expanded to $100,000,000 under Clean California," Souza said, and argued that the administration's proposal could sustain crews and services. Dylan Hoffman of the Center for Employment Opportunities urged continued funding to provide transitional employment and wraparound services for people returning from incarceration.
Ending: Committee members signaled limited support for the concept but substantial concern about adding new general fund obligations in the current budget climate. Caltrans and Finance were asked to provide additional details on program design, matching requirements and interactions with existing local efforts.
