Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, and Toxics
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation


Publications

Environment and Natural Resources

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Report

Resources Bonds: Getting Funds Out-the-Door

February 24, 2005 - We find that there are significant amounts of resources bond funds that were appropriated in the current and prior years that have not been expended. We also find that delays persist in getting funds out-the door and that there has been a lack of demand for the specified use of some bond funds. We recommend that the administration report at budget hearings on various bond program implementation issues.


Report

Reorganizing the State’s Recycling Programs

February 24, 2005 - In order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the state’s recycling programs, we recommend that such programs be consolidated into a new department within the California Environmental Protection Agency. We also recommend that the nonrecyling-related functions in the current agencies be transferred to other departments. This reorganization would generate special fund savings of at least $2 million.


Report

Financing Flood Lawsuit Settlement

February 24, 2005 - The budget proposes to finance a pending $464 million settlement of a flood-related lawsuit against the state (the Paterno case) with a judgment bond. We think that there may be other ways to pay this settlement. We also find that the judgment bond proposal raises legal, policy, and fiscal issues for the Legislature to consider. We recommend that the Director of Finance report on various issues at budget hearings.


Report

Analysis of the 2005-06 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

February 24, 2005 - Analysis of the 2005-06 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter


Handout

Resources Bond Overview

February 23, 2005 - Presented to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources on February 23, 2005.


Report

Water Policy Issues Facing the State

February 22, 2005 - Two of the most important water policy issues facing the state today are how to address what has been characterized by the administration as a “crisis” in flood management and how to finance the $8.1 billion CALFED Bay-Delta Program (CALFED). We analyze a Department of Water Resources White Paper recently submitted to the Legislature on addressing the state’s flood management challenges and make recommendations for legislative action. We also analyze a ten-year finance plan for CALFED that the budget indicates will be incorporated in the Governor’s May Revision. We find that the finance plan’s revenue assumptions may be unrealistic. As a result, the Legislature will need to establish its expenditure priorities so that the program can be “right sized” consistent with those priorities.


Report

Improving Coastal Access And Development Mitigation

January 19, 2005 - The Legislature has made protection of and access to California's 1,100 miles of coastline a statewide priority. While the California Coastal Commission has made progress toward protecting California's coastline, certain of the commission's permitting practices have temporarily reduced, and may permanently reduce, the public's access to the coast. The Coastal Commission's mitigation strategies include owners offering to dedicate (OTD) portions of their property to public use as a condition of receiving a coastal development permit. We make a number of recommendations focused on encouraging more upfront mitigation of coastal development, finding a more appropriate funding source for mitigation, and shortening the timeframes for acceptance and opening of OTDs.


Letter

LAO Review of Proposed Hearst Ranch Conservation Transaction

August 6, 2004 - In a letter to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee dated August 3, 2004, we raise a number of significant concerns about the proposed allocation of state bond and other funds for a conservation-related transaction concerning the Hearst Ranch property in San Luis Obispo County. In particular, we find that the level of resource protection provided by the transaction needs strengthening and greater certainty. We make recommendations to improve the state's oversight of the enforcement of the terms of the transaction to ensure that the state's significant investment is adequately protected in perpetuity.


Report

Proposition 50 Resources Bond: Funding Eligibility of Private Water Companies

May 14, 2004 - The implementation of the Proposition 50 resources bond has raised the issue of whether private water companies should be eligible for these funds. We identify several legal, tax, and policy issues for legislative consideration in evaluating this issue. We recommend that the Legislature declare its policy position on this matter. Our review concludes that the broad public purpose of Proposition 50 bond funds would be served by including private entities as eligible recipients of such funds.


Handout

Governor's 2004-05 Budget Proposal: Resources Bonds

April 29, 2004 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on April 29, 2004


Handout

2004-05 Budget Overview: Resources and Environmental Protection

March 18, 2004 - Presented to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee Number 2.


Report

California Teleconnect Fund: An Assessment

February 18, 2004 - The Governor's budget proposes a significant reduction in expenditures for the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) program, which provides discounts on telephone service and other advanced telecommunication services that provide access to the Internet (such as digital subscriber line [commonly referred to as DSL] services) to schools, libraries, and qualifying hospitals and community-based organizations. While we have concerns regarding the operation of the current program, we find this underfunding to be contrary to legislative direction. To address this, we recommend the California Public Utilities Commission report at budget hearings on the projected funding requirements of the program in the budget year. Furthermore, if the CTF program requires additional funding in 2004-05, we identify options for the Legislature to consider to provide additional funding for the program.


Report

State Park Services: Potential for Increased Private Sector Partnership

February 18, 2004 - We find other park jurisdictions contract with the private sector for the delivery of types of services not contracted out by the Department of Parks and Recreation. We recommend a pilot program to further explore the pros and cons, as well as the costs and benefits, of expanding these public-private partnering activities in state parks.


Report

Governor’s Resources Bond Expenditure Proposal

February 18, 2004 - The Governor has deferred the submittal of most of his resources bond expenditure proposals to later in the spring, leaving major gaps in programs traditionally funded from bond funds. We provide a framework to assist the Legislature in evaluating the forthcoming bond proposals; this includes ensuring that the Governor’s proposals reflect legislative priorities for bond funding.


Report

California Power Authority: Where Now?

February 18, 2004 - The budget proposes eliminating the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority (CPA). Although CPA has been unable to fulfill its core mission to finance new power plants, this has largely been due to market conditions. Given significant uncertainties regarding the adequacy of the state’s energy supply to meet future demand, we think retaining some of CPA’s functions (either within or outside CPA) has merit