In his recently released state budget proposal, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed eliminating the state’s juvenile correctional institutions, instead reserving state capacity only for the most serious and violent felony youth and transferring funds and responsibility for less serious offenders to the local level. This is at least one step ahead of the Arizona Governor’s proposal (that was rejected by the legislature) in which Governor Brewer simply proposed closing the state’s institutions and saving the money for something else – not sending resources to the local level. While questions remain about funding aftercare services for those youth who do return from a state institution and the capacity/ability of counties to absorb and adequately ”gear up” for dealing with more youth locally, in some ways this approach represents an example of structural changes that have the potential to encourage more cost-effective local efforts. Whether this significant a change can be pulled off in a state as big and complex as California, we’ll see!
Wisconsin’s Strong Fiscal Position is an Opportunity to Ensure Everyone Benefits
Wisconsin can be a place where we all—regardless of race or place—have what we need to overcome challenges and make our families safe and well. The state’s historically large surplus is an opportunity to build a stronger foundation for children and families in our state, like access to child care and health care, good schools, and affordable homes.
