To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
February 20, 2008 - Elizabeth Hill discusses highlights from our 2008-09 Analysis of the Budget Bill and Perspectives and Issues.
February 20, 2008 - In contrast to the administration’s across-the-board reduction budget-balancing approach that fails to prioritize state spending, we offer an alternative approach for the Legislature’s consideration. By making more targeted reductions; eliminating or modifying ineffectiveness or nonessential programs; and adding ongoing revenue solutions, we believe this approach offers the Legislature a better foundation to begin crafting a 2008-09 budget that focuses on essential services. This piece provides an overview of the key components of this alternative approach. Our alternative budget would end the 2008-09 fiscal year with a $1.3 billion reserve, and remain balanced through 2012-13.
February 20, 2008 - Our annual detailed examination of the Budget Bill based on the Governor's Budget. It includes hundreds of findings and recommendations related to education, health and social services, criminal justice, transportation, resources, capital outlay, information technology, and local government.
January 14, 2008 - Elizabeth Hill's Initial Assessment of the 2008-09 Governor's Budget.
January 14, 2008 - The Governor has put forward an aggressive agenda for the special session and the 2008–09 budget. The Legislature should focus first on those areas where time is of the essence—where early decisions will allow state programs to achieve desired savings in the current year. The special session should also be used to lay the groundwork for achieving budget–year savings—for instance, by developing any program restructurings and taking any necessary actions on the current–year Proposition 98 minimum guarantee. In contrast to the Governor’s approach of across–the–board reductions, in our view the Legislature should (1) eliminate or further reduce low–priority programs in order to minimize the impact on higher priority programs and (2) examine additional revenue options as part of a more balanced approach. Making tough choices now will allow the state to move closer to bringing its long–term spending and revenues into alignment.
November 27, 2007 - Presented by Elizabeth Hill to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, November 27, 2007.
November 14, 2007 - Elizabeth Hill describes California's Fiscal Outlook, 2007-08 Through 2012-13
November 14, 2007 - In order to balance the 2008–09 budget, the state will have to adopt nearly $10 billion in solutions. Addressing the state’s current budget problem is even more urgent because we forecast a continuing gap between revenues and expenditures. A plan to permanently address the state’s fiscal troubles must involve a substantial portion of ongoing solutions. This is not only because of the persistent operating deficits projected throughout the forecast, but also because of the downside risks inherent with the economy, General Fund revenue volatility, and a wide range of budgetary uncertainties. Making tough choices now will allow the state to move closer to putting its fiscal woes in the past.
October 15, 2007 - 2007-08 state budget update presented to Los Angeles County Office of Education, October 4, 2007.
October 15, 2007 - The state spending plan for 2007–08 includes total budget expenditures of $131.5 billion. This includes $102.3 billion from the General Fund and $29.2 billion from special funds, an increase of 4.3 percent from 2006–07. The state also expects to spend $14 billion in bond funds for infrastructure during the fiscal year. The enacted budget, with the Governor’s vetoes, assumed that the state would spend no more than it received in 2007–08 and end the year with a $4.1 billion reserve. Many of the budget solutions are of a one–time nature. Based on the 2007–08 budget plan’s policies, therefore, the state would once again face operating shortfalls of more than $5 billion in both 2008–09 and 2009–10.