State allots $50M for Stanislaus, other counties for sidewalks, highways, foster youth
A package of state budget bills allocates nearly $50 million for communities in Stanislaus County and the Sierra region, a state representative said.
State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil of the 4th Senate District announced the allocations as California lawmakers put final touches on a $310.8 billion budget last week.
The plan includes $5 million for wastewater service and sidewalks in neighborhoods of south Modesto.
The agreement also will reinstate a Streets and Highways Code section placing a cap on certain highway construction costs for counties including Stanislaus that are funding projects with local road taxes. A news release from the senator’s office said local governments will see millions of dollars in savings because of the 10% cap on Caltrans oversight costs.
“This will save roughly $34 million in the delivery of mega-regional projects identified in our Measure L expenditure plan,” Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez, who is the Stanislaus Council of Governments chairman, said in the news release.
The budget allocations also include a $40 million investment in food production initiatives through a California Energy Commission program. The initiative will promote sustainability and innovation in agriculture across the 13 counties in her district, the senator said.
An additional $2 million is for assisting foster youth during disasters.
“These initiatives encompass a wide range of areas, such as strengthening food production, safeguarding the well-being of foster youth during emergencies, fostering environmental revitalization and supporting critical infrastructure in south Modesto,” Alvarado-Gil said.
Alvarado-Gil’s Senate district represents people in Stanislaus, eastern Merced, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Mariposa, Madera, Amador, Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada and Placer counties.
This story was originally published June 29, 2023 at 12:30 PM.
