Gavin Newsom’s budget called a ‘fantasyland’ as spending skyrockets
By Josh Koehn
Published May 14, 2026, 9:53 p.m. ET
Gavin Newsom touted California’s roaring economy while also preaching fiscal prudence as he unveiled his final budget as governor Thursday — the largest in state history.
The governor’s revised 2026-27 budget proposes $349.9 billion in total spending and $246.6 billion from the general fund — the highest total spending level of Newsom’s governorship and a nearly $150 billion increase from the budget he inherited in 2019.
Gov. Gavin Newsom intends to go out with a bang as his final budget will cost nearly $350 billion.
The governor’s critics were quick to seize on this point, accusing Newsom of living in a “fantasyland” and using mathematical magic for his final budget, as huge upticks in spending suggest a rosier picture than many expected — just before he walks out the door (and likely runs for president).
An ominous report last month by California legislative analysts predicted the state’s excessive spending could lead to structural deficits as high as $30 billion a year.
State Sen. Roger Niello, vice chair of the Senate Budget Committee, told The Post that Newsom’s presentation was “a magic show full of tricks to fool the people.”
https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/us-news/gavin-newsoms-final-budget-hits-record-spending-under-his-watch/
