Staff
Ann Hollingshead
(916) 319-8305
State Budget and Federal Funding
Nick Schroeder
(916) 319-8314
Public Employment, CalPERS, Elections, Veterans Affairs
Angela Short
(916) 319-8309
Child Welfare, Child Support, Community Services and Development, Community Care Licensing, CalSTRS
Paul Steenhausen
(916) 319-8303
Local Government, Housing, and Homelessness
Rowan Isaaks
(916) 319-8362
Corporation Tax and Economic Development
Seth Kerstein
(916) 319-8365
Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics


Publications

Local Government

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Report

A Perspective on County Fiscal Constraints

February 21, 1996 - The fiscal constraints counties face hinder county administration of many programs in which the state has considerable interest--including health, welfare, criminal justice, and property tax collection. These fiscal constraints also impair county ability to provide local programs--law enforcement, libraries, and parks--in a manner which meets the preferences of local residents.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

(1) Proposition 62 Voter Approval Requirements Upheld, and (2) Economic and Revenue Developments

October 24, 1995 - (1) Proposition 62 Voter Approval Requirements Upheld, and (2) Economic and Revenue Developments


Report

A Review of the Orange County Recovery Plan As Proposed August 22, 1995

September 1, 1995 - A Review of the Orange County Recovery Plan As Proposed August 22, 1995


Report

A Review of the Orange County Recovery Plan as Proposed August 22, 1995

August 22, 1995 - On December 6, 1994, Orange County and its investment pool filed for protection under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Chapter 9 filing followed a $1.7 billion loss in the pool's investment portfolio.


Report

An Overview and Assessment of Los Angeles County's 1995-96 Budget Problem

July 11, 1995 - In June 1995, the Los Angeles County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) submitted the county's 1995-96 proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors.


Other

Los Angeles County’s Fiscal Problems

July 11, 1995 - Los Angeles County’s Fiscal Problems


Report

An Overview and Assessment of Los Angeles County’s 1995-96 Budget Problem

July 1, 1995 - An Overview and Assessment of Los Angeles County’s 1995-96 Budget Problem


Report

The Governor's 1995-96 State-County Realignment Proposal

February 22, 1995 - The Governor's 1995-96 State-County Realignment Proposal


Report

Redevelopment After Reform: A Preliminary Look

December 29, 1994 - This white paper reviews redevelopment activities undertaken between January 1993 and August 1994.


Report

Making Government Make Sense: Developing a Reform Proposal

July 21, 1994 - The California Constitution Revision Cornmission has identified as its first priority a review of the state and local government program and financing relationship. In 1993, the Legislative Analyst's Office proposed a model-called Making Govemment Make Sense (MGMS)-or restructuring this state and local government relationship. This handout describes the three-step approach we took in developing the MGMS model.


Report

Proposition 172—How Did it Affect Spending for Public Safety

June 9, 1994 - On November 2, 1993, California voters enacted Proposition 172, which established a permanent statewide half-cent sales tax for support of local public safety functions in cities and counties. This Policy Brief reviews how counties—the primary beneficiaries of Proposition 172—have budgeted these new funds in 1993-94 and assesses the impact of public safety several maintenance of effort requirements on county budgets.


Report

Restructuring the State-Local Relationship

February 23, 1994 - The 1994-95 Governor's Budget proposes a major restructuring of the fiscal relationship between the state and California's 58 county governments. This proposal would increase county governments' responsibilities for funding a variety of health and welfare programs, and transfer a corresponding amount of state resources to the counties. The Governor's proposal is similar in many respects to a restructuring proposal offered by this office last year. To assist the Legislature in pursuing its restructuring agenda, we outline the elements of the Governor's proposal, and evaluate its fiscal implications. We offer modifications to the proposal to correct the weaknesses we identify. Finally, we suggest that the Legislature needs to consider the state's restructuring needs within a long-term context.


Report

Common Cents—Background Material on State and Local Government Finances

October 1, 1993 - Common Cents—Background Material on State and Local Government Finances


Report

Local Sales Taxes—What Role Can They Play in the 1993-94 State Budget?

June 1, 1993 - In this brief, we review the existing authority of counties to raise the local sales tax, and the viability of this proposed method for offsetting the county revenue losses associated with the proposed property tax shift. As we concluded in our May Revision analysis, the proposals to offset county property tax revenue losses fall short. The revenue likely to be generated from additional local sales taxes—if these taxes are put on the ballot, passed by the voters, and survive likely legal challenges—would offset less than 20 percent of counties’ revenue loss, on average, in 1993-94.


Report

Making Government Make Sense: Applying the Concept in 1993-94

May 1, 1993 - We propose realigning responsibility for various state and local programs. It is our belief that the proposal enhances the flexibility of counties and their control of program operations. We provide an alternative that accomplishes both objectives. Our proposal saves $1.4 billion in state costs by shifting various program costs to counties (consistent with our overall restructuring model), and funds these added local costs through the extension of the half cent sales tax on a transitional basis.