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Economy and Taxes Publications

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Handout

California Postwar Economic Developments

November 17, 2009 - Presented to Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee

Handout

Should the State Consolidate Its Revenue Agencies?

June 10, 2009 - Presented to Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation

Handout

May Revision Revenue Proposals

June 3, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Handout

Tax Administration Reforms and Federal Tax Conformity Recommendations

May 7, 2009 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Revenues, the Economy, and Labor

Handout

Tax Relief Provisions Included in the 2009 Federal Stimulus Legislation

March 23, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee

Handout

Tax Expenditures: Policy Issues

February 13, 2009 - Presented to Commission on the 21st Century Economy

Report

2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Revenues

February 6, 2009 - To assist the Legislature in resolving the 2009‑10 budget gap, we developed a list of proposals that would raise more than $5 billion in each of 2009‑10 and 2010‑11. Our proposed options include eliminating or modifying 12 tax expenditure programs for a savings of $1.7 billion over the next two years. In general, these recommendations are based on our conclusion that these programs lack a strong rationale or are not sufficiently effective or efficient in achieving their stated goals. We also identify two targeted rate increases—increasing the vehicle license fee (VLF) to 1 percent and a three-year temporary PIT surcharge—that, combined, would raise $3.4 billion in 2009‑10 and $3.5 billion in 2010‑11. These options could be considered by the Legislature in lieu of any of the Governor’s revenue-related proposals. We believe these proposals have merit, both for tax policy reasons (for example, the VLF increase would result in all property in California taxed at the same rate) and for reducing the net impact of any rate increases on taxpayers (as both the VLF and PIT are deductible for federal tax purposes).

Presentation

Perspectives on the State’s Revenue Structure

January 22, 2009 - Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor's presentation to the Commission on the 21st Century Economy.

Report

Taxpayer Use and Administration of the Revised 540 2EZ Tax Form

January 5, 2009 - This report was prepared pursuant to Chapter 844, Statutes of 2004 (SB 1534, Johnson) which expands the income eligibility criteria for use of the 540 2EZ tax form in filing resident personal income taxes (PITs). The measure also requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to study the impact of the law change.

Report

California's Fiscal Outlook: LAO Projections 2008-09 Through 2013-14

November 20, 2008 - The state’s struggling economy has severely reduced expected revenues. Combined with rising state expenses, we project that the state will need $27.8 billion in budget solutions over the 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscal years. The state’s revenue collapse is so dramatic and the underlying economic factors are so weak that we forecast huge budget shortfalls through 2013-14 absent corrective action. From 2010-11 through 2013-14, we project annual shortfalls that are consistently in the range of $22 billion. Closing a projected $28 billion budget shortfall will be a monumental task. We believe the Legislature must take major ongoing actions by both reducing base spending and increasing revenues. If the Legislature has any hope of developing a fiscally responsible 2009–10 budget, it must begin laying the groundwork now.

Report

Investment Income and the Insurance Gross Premiums Tax

July 24, 2008 - Submitted Pursuant to Chapter 868, Statutes of 2004 (AB 263, Oropeza)

Handout

Tax Expenditures and Revenue Options

April 7, 2008 - Presented to: Assembly Revenue and Taxation committee

Handout

Informational Hearing on Tax Expenditures

February 27, 2008 - Presented to Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee

Report

LAO Revenue-Raising Proposals

February 20, 2008 - The Governor’s budget includes almost no new revenue-raising proposals. Given the magnitude of the budget problem, we examine the state’s existing tax structure in the same way as the spending side--with an eye towards reducing inefficient or ineffective provisions. In this section, we discuss proposals that look at the revenue side of the budget. In so doing, we have applied the same approach as with direct spending programs--that is, we have examined tax-related provisions referred to as tax expenditure programs (TEPs)--and recommended changes to those that are not achieving their stated purposes or are of a lower priority.

Report

2008-09 Budget: Perspectives and Issues

February 20, 2008 - 2008-09 Budget: Perspectives and Issues

Economy and Taxes Staff

Chas Alamo
(916) 319-8357
Personal Income Tax, Employment, and Labor Law
 
Ross Brown
(916) 319-8345
Property Taxes, Bonds, and the Economy
 
Ann Hollingshead
(916) 319-8305
State Budget and Federal Funding
 
Nick Schroeder
(916) 319-8314
Public Employment, CalPERS, Elections, Veterans Affairs
 
Brian Uhler
(916) 319-8328
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Economy, Taxes, and Labor
 
Seth Kerstein
(916) 319-8365
Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics