The 2019-20 Budget

May Revision Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 17, 2019

Presents our office’s independent assessment of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2022‑23 assuming the economy continues to grow and all of the Governor’s May Revision spending proposals are adopted.

Improving California’s Prison Inmate Classification System

May 2, 2019

Provides background information on CDCR’s inmate classification system, assesses the current system, and recommends steps to improve it.

Evaluation of Cal Grant C Program

April 30, 2019

Evaluates the Cal Grant C program, as required by statute, and makes a recommendation regarding whether the state should maintain it.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of the Carve Out of Medi-Cal Pharmacy Services From Managed Care

April 5, 2019

Analyzes one of the two initiatives included in the Governor's executive order: to transition the pharmacy services benefit in Medi-Cal from managed care to entirely a fee-for-service (FFS) benefit directly paid for and administered by the state.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of Proposed Increase in State Funding for Local Child Support Agencies

March 26, 2019

Provides background on the current child support program; describes and assesses the Governor’s 2019‑20 proposal to create a new budgeting methodology that would increase funding for certain LCSAs by nearly $60 million General Fund.

The 2019-20 Budget

Assessing the Governor’s 1991 Realignment Proposals

March 8, 2019

Evaluates the changes the Governor proposes and assesses whether the changes better position 1991 realignment to achieve its intended benefits and meet the principles of a successful state‑county fiscal partnership we identified in our October report.

The 2019-20 Budget

Early Education Analysis

March 4, 2019

Analyzes the Governor’s early education proposals and provides a summary of our recommedations.

The 2019-20 Budget

Transportation Proposals

February 26, 2019

Reviews the Governor's transportation proposals, including those for the Motor Vehicle Account (MVA), the implementation of REAL ID, and the high-speed rail project; identifies issues for legislative consideration.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of the Department of Developmental Services Budget

February 25, 2019

Evaluates the Governor's budget proposals for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

The 2019-20 Budget

Using Proposition 56 Funding in Medi-Cal to Improve Access to Quality Care

February 22, 2019

Analyzes the use of Proposition 56 (2016) funding in Medi‑Cal to improve access to quality care; summarizes how Proposition 56 funding in Medi‑Cal has been used to date and the changes proposed under the Governor’s 2019‑20 budget; provides issues for consideration and recommendations.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of the Department of Social Services Budget

February 22, 2019

Evaluates the Governor's major human services budget proposals for programs administered by the Department of Social Services, including the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and foster care.

The 2019-20 Budget

Higher Education Analysis

February 21, 2019

Analyzes the Governor's higher education budget proposals and provides a summary of our recommedations.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of Governor's Criminal Justice Proposals

February 19, 2019

Assesses many of the Governor’s budget proposals in the judicial and criminal justice area and recommends various changes; provides a complete listing of our recommendations at the end of the report.

The 2019-20 Budget

Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

February 14, 2019

Assesses several of the Governor’s budget proposals in the natural resources and environmental protection areas; recommends various changes as well as additional legislative oversight. Provides a complete listing of our recommendations.

The 2019-20 Budget

Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget

February 13, 2019

Describes the Governor's proposed Medi-Cal budget; advises the Legislature to consider renewing the managed care organization tax; presents issues for consideration related to the Governor's proposed expansion of comprehensive Medi-Cal coverage for young adults regardless of immigration status; and provides an initial assessment of the Governor's proposals to use Proposition 56 funding in Medi-Cal to extend and expand provider payment increases.

The 2019-20 Budget

Proposition 98 Analysis

February 13, 2019

Assesses the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyzes his specific proposals for K‑12 education.

The 2019-20 Budget

The Governor's Individual Health Insurance Market Affordability Proposals

February 7, 2019

Assesses the Governor's proposals to (1) create a state requirement that most Californians purchase health insurance coverage ("individual mandate") or pay a financial penalty and (2) use the revenues from this penalty to fund additional health insurance subsidies for households purchasing coverage through Covered California.

The 2019-20 Budget

Structuring the Budget:
Reserves, Debt and Liabilities

February 5, 2019

Considers the structure of the Governor’s budget to evaluate how well it prepares the state to address a future budget problem; assesses Governor’s major budget reserve and debt and liability proposals, offering alternatives for legislative consideration.

The 2020 Census: Potential Impacts on California

December 13, 2018

Provides information on what the Census is and how it's conducted; discusses potential effects of an undercount in California.

Evaluation of a Sales Tax Exemption for Certain Manufacturers

December 11, 2018

Fulfills the statutory requirement of Public Resources Code 26011.8(g) requiring our office to report on the effectiveness of a sales tax exemption program administered by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA).

Taxation of Sugary Drinks

November 26, 2018

Provides information and perspectives for the Legislature to consider as it weighs its choices regarding the taxation of sugary drinks.

Rethinking the 1991 Realignment

October 15, 2018

Evaluates the extent to which one of California’s more notable realignments undertaken in 1991 achieves its intended benefits.

Evaluation of the Property Tax Postponement Program

October 8, 2018

Discusses property taxes in California, identifying groups most likely having difficulty paying those taxes; provides advantages and shortcomings of the current Property Tax Postponement Program; provides policy alternatives for legislative consideration.

Improving Access to Dental Services for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

September 27, 2018

Analyzes the extent to which dental services are available and sufficient for individuals with developmental disabilities; finding that access challenges exist, considers options and makes recommendations for improving access.

The Salton Sea: A Status Update

August 29, 2018

The Salton Sea is California’s largest inland lake, located in Riverside and Imperial Counties. In this report, we discuss the changing conditions in and around the Sea, their statewide importance, and the Legislature’s role in overseeing projects to reduce potential negative effects on public health and wildlife.

Improving California's
Forest and Watershed Management

April 5, 2018

Provides background information on California’s forests; highlights shortcomings in the state's management approach and recommends actions the Legislature could take to improve the health of forests and watersheds across the state.

Related Content: Fact Sheet

Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession

March 7, 2018

Provides an overview of revenue losses in past recessions; compares the Governor's reserve proposal for 2018-19 to past reserves and other states; presents a framework the Legislature can use to plan for a recession; concludes with alternatives for legislative consideration.