Earlier this week, Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature announced a deal on the 2017-18 State Budget Package.  Yesterday, both houses ratified the $183.2 billion spending plan (Assembly Bill 97) and a handful of budget trailer bills that assist in implementing the State Budget Package.  It should be noted that the State Budget Package remains incomplete – there are a number of remaining budget trailer Bills awaiting action, including measures pertaining to health care, public health, a State pre-payment to California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), and reforms to the California Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill).  Read More…