Senator Thomas J Umberg’s Budget Efforts for Orange County Pay Off
Democratic Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D - Santa Ana) has successfully secured several victories for the people of Orange County in this year’s California State Budget. Senator Umberg has staunchly advocated the region’s priorities in the state legislature. This work has yielded initial investments in such areas as public safety, affordable housing, health and human services, education, business incentives, with more announcements to come.
Senator Umberg worked to secure the following local funding items:
- $10 Million for the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana. The Discovery Science Foundation serves as the educational program-development and fundraising arm for hands-on science learning centers in Orange County. Established in 1989, the Discovery Cube continues to inspire and educate millions of young minds through engaging science-based programs and exhibits.
- $1.6 for the establishment of a Diaper Bank at the Orange County Foodbank, which distributes a limited supply of donated diapers through a small network of community organizations. The additional funding will allow for the continued operation of the publicly-financed diaper bank.
- $1,000,000 for permanent supportive housing within the OC Housing Trust Fund. This money will help fund workforce housing and lending to affordable housing developers within Orange County. As the county continues to move to provide more units of housing over the next few years, the OC Housing Trust Fund and its partnership with the state will play a vital role in assisting our homeless and low-income residents.
“I am working to make government more accountable to the people of Orange County,” said Umberg. “I will continue to work for all of our people; whether it is the working family, the veteran that protected our great country, the student that’s struggling to get an education, or the average tax-paying Orange County resident that deserves their hard-earned money to work for them.”
The 2019-20 State Budget has taken a conservative and responsible approach to saving funding with the largest reserves in state history. It makes supplemental payments that make the pension system more fiscally sound, and ends the Medi-Cal “senior penalty” that hits many low-income Californians when they turn 65.
“By taking prudent and responsible actions in our budget, we can relieve pressure on any working-class tax increase,” said Umberg. “Education, health care, housing, and public safety should continue to be invested in, and safe from, any cuts. I am committed to Orange County retaining their fair share of the state’s resources. The people of Orange County deserve to have our important projects funded. I am happy to be playing an active role with Senate leadership to make sure that occurs.”
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Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District 34, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Westminster. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.