Returning money to California taxpayers may aid state budget

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - There's a chance those of you in California could be getting some more money back as Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to send people another round of government checks to help offset the record high cost of gas, could actually help him balance the state’s budget.

While the state has rarely surpassed the limit that they are allowed to spend each year, revenues have been climbing so fast that Newsom expects the state to be at least $2.6 billion past the limit this year and perhaps much more.

So to combat that, Newsom and state lawmakers have a few options to get back under the limit.

One of those options is to return money to taxpayers, which has been the most popular choice. And earlier this week in his State of the State Address, he included a proposal for a rebate to help people pay for the high cost of fuel.

But, the proposal is so new that there aren't many details and it’s also not clear how much the proposal would help keep the state under the spending limit.