Infrastructure Maintenance


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What is maintenance and why is it important?


Maintenance includes the recurring, usual upkeep needed to preserve and extend the useful life of facilities. For example, it includes regular roof work such as inspections and patchwork, as well as replacements. Maintenance is important for protecting the state’s investments in its facilities. When adequate routine maintenance is not performed, it can sometimes trigger repairs that are more expensive in the future. For instance, when regular roof work does not occur, it can result in water damage to facilities that can be difficult and costly to repair.

 


How much does the state spend on facility maintenance?


The state does not have an overall estimate of how much it spends to maintain its facilities. This is because departments do not have separate budgets for maintenance in many cases. Instead, maintenance funding is often included along with other activities in departments’ operating budgets.

 


What is deferred maintenance?


When maintenance is delayed or does not occur, we refer to this as deferred maintenance. Defining and estimating the amount of deferred maintenance is often complicated because departments vary in what types of activities they consider maintenance. For example, some departments include as maintenance projects that are not traditionally considered as such—for example, energy and water efficiency upgrades, studies, and code compliance work. In contrast, other departments do not include such activities when identifying maintenance projects.

 


How much maintenance has the state deferred?


The state does not have a comprehensive inventory of the condition of its existing infrastructure. However, according to the administration’s 2018-19 estimate, the state has $67 billion in deferred maintenance, most of which is in the transportation area.

Administration’s Identified Deferred Maintenance Needs in 2018-19

(In Millions)

Department/Program

Amount

Transportation

$47,300

Water Resources

12,000

University of California

3,170

Judicial Branch

1,594

Parks and Recreation

1,137

Corrections and Rehabilitation

680

Developmental Services

290

Community Colleges

288

Military

168

General Services

148

State Hospitals

100

California State University

83

Veterans Affairs

72

Fish and Wildlife

51

California Fairs

43

Highway Patrol

39

State Special Schools

21

Motor Vehicles

11

Emergency Services

10

Science Center

7

Forestry and Fire Protection

6

Employment Development Department

6

Food and Agriculture

6

Conservation Corps

2

Hastings College of Law

1

Total

$67,233

For more information, see The 2018-19 Budget: The May Revision: Deferred Maintenance.

 


How much has the state funded for deferred maintenance in recent years?


From 2015-16 to 2021-22, the state provided over $4 billion for deferred maintenance, mostly from the General Fund.

Deferred Maintenance Allocations from 2015‑16 to 2021‑22

All Funds (In Millions)

Department

2015‑16

2016‑17

2018‑19

2019‑20

2021‑22

Total

California Community Colleges

$148

$185

$28

$14

$511

$886

California State University

25

35

35

239

325

659

University of California

25

35

35

144

325

564

Department of Water Resources

100

100

237

437

Judicial Branch

45

50

15

188

298

Department of Parks and Recreation

20

60

25

185

290

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

15

55

9

25

100

204

Department of State Hospitals

7

64

10

15

100

196

Department of General Services

5

12

10

8

50

85

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

2

8

2

3

50

65

Other departments

23

89

54

38

140

344

Total

$270

$688

$333

$525.0

$2,211

$4,027

LAO Staff Contacts

Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Capital Outlay Coordinator, Department of General Services
Jessica Peters
(916) 319-8363
Forestry and Fire Protection and Parks and Recreation
Ryan Anderson
(916) 319-8308
State Special Schools
Jason Constantouros
(916) 319-8322
University of California
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Water Infrastructure and Fish and Wildlife
Jackie Barocio
(916) 319-8333
Veterans Affairs
Edgar Cabral
(916) 319-8343
California Community Colleges
Amy Li
(916) 319-8358
K-12 School Facilities
Anita Lee
(916) 319-8321
Judicial Branch
Shawn Martin
(916) 319-8362
Food and Agriculture and Conservation Corps
Caitlin O’Neil
(916) 319-8351
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Drew Soderborg
(916) 319-8346
State Hospitals
Paul Steenhausen
(916) 319-8303
California State University
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Developmental Services