Sizable Stimulus Checks May Be Coming To Californians In 2022

People have been pushing for more Golden State stimulus checks in 2022. Now, pressure is coming from within the legislation.

In a video released on Wednesday, February 2, State Senator Brian Jones broke down the state's projected budget surplus using rice.

“If each grain of rice is $100,000, that means California’s $45 billion surplus is taxes over-collected by this much,” Jones said.

He said this is enough to give back $1,125 to each Californian, which would be more than $4,000 for a family of four.

According to KTXL, the state is projected to pass the Gann Limit this year, which restricts the amount of tax revenue the state can spend and gives them options on what is leftover, including a rebate to taxpayers.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced in January that his current budget proposal projects the state would be over the Gann Limit by $2.6 million.

“If it’s 2,500, if it’s 1,500, any amount that we can convince the state, the governor, the Democrats in the Legislature to send back, I think is a benefit to every Californian and every California family,” said Jones. 

Newsom said the matter will be determined more closely in May, but State Legislative Analyst Gabe Patek told FOX5 waiting until then could put lawmakers and the governor in a tough position.

“Since the time of the governor’s budget proposal even, we know revenues have exceeded the governor’s estimate, and they’ve exceeded last year’s budget act. All signs point to higher revenue than what the governor is estimating,” said Patek.