Citing Major Budget Surplus, Newsom Proposes $600 Rebate Checks

Pasadenans could receive an additional $600 stimulus check from the state.

According to a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom, nearly two-thirds of residents in Southern California and across the state would receive the checks, while families with children would receive an additional $500.

“We are tripling the Golden State Stimulus to get money in the hands of more middle-class Californians who have been hit hard by this pandemic,” Newsom said. “Two in three Californians will receive a check from the state and more than $5 billion in aid will be made available to those who need help paying their rent or utility bills.”

The payments are being proposed in response to what Newsom called a $75.7 billion state budget surplus.

In addition to the direct stimulus payments, Newsom also proposed $5 billion to assist renters who have fallen behind in their payments, and another $2 billion to cover utility bills that residents hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic have struggled to pay.

The stimulus payments would be directed to families earning up to $75,000.

The proposal needs to be approved by the state Legislature. It was not known when the checks would be sent out.