Jerry Brown says state must pay debt, new taxes on horizon | Consumer Alliance for a Strong Economy

By Melody Gutierrez at SF Gate

January 21, 2016

SACRAMENTO — California needs to stay focused on building a reserve fund for an inevitable recession and anticipate that new taxes will be needed to pay for crumbling roads and bridges, Gov. Jerry Brown said in a State of the State speech Thursday that was big on chores, short on glamour.

The state’s $77 billion in deferred maintenance — primarily for fixing roads, highways and bridges — is a problem that must be addressed, the four-term governor told lawmakers in his 14th State of the State speech.

“That means at some point, sooner rather than later, we have to bite the bullet and enact new fees and taxes for this purpose,” Brown, 77, said. “Ideology and politics stand in the way, but one way or another the roads must be fixed.”