Local Government Publications
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
Financing Parole Realignment: Q & A
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April 2, 2008 - Questions and answers regarding parole realignment financing. A companion piece to "LAO Parole Realignment."
LAO Parole Realignment
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April 2, 2008 - Water and waste district enterprise special district property taxes redirected to support public safety/parole realignment.
Major Milestones: 35 Years of the State-Local Fiscal Relationship
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March 27, 2008 - The past 35 years in California have seen significant changes in the fiscal relationship between state and local government. This time line highlights the major events that have altered the state-local fiscal relationship since 1972. The milestones illustrate a number of key themes that have emerged over the past quarter century. (For older versions of Acrobat Reader, adjustment may be needed in the Page Scale field of Print Settings in order to print on 8.5" X 11" paper.)
Supplement to Major Milestones: 35 Years of the State-Local Fiscal Relationship
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March 27, 2008 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Public Safety/Parole Realignment Property Tax Redirection
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March 10, 2008 - Water and Waste District Enterprise Special District Property Taxes Redirected to Support Public Safety/Parole Realignment
Parole Realignment LAO Alternative Budget Package
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March 10, 2008 - Handout summarizing the LAO's proposed realignment of responsibility for supervision of low-level criminal offenders from the state parole system to county probation.
Realignment of Parole Could Improve Public Safety and Help Address Budget Shortfall
February 20, 2008 - We propose a nearly $500 million realignment of responsibility for supervision of low-level criminal offenders from the state parole system to county probation. Funding for parole realignment would come from a reallocation of waste and water district property taxes, city Proposition 172 sales taxes, and vehicle license fees. Our plan is designed to give counties a greater stake in the success of these offenders in the community, thereby reducing their likelihood of reoffending.
Restructuring Criminal Justice Local Assistance Programs
February 20, 2008 - The Governor’s budget proposes 10 percent across-the-board reductions for criminal justice local assistance programs to achieve about $60 million in savings. We recommend instead that the Legislature achieve savings of about $270 million by eliminating or reducing General Fund support for programs that have not demonstrated results, do not serve a statewide purpose, could be consolidated, or could be funded from other sources.
No Funds to Pay 2007-08 Mandate Costs
February 20, 2008 - The administration proposes special session legislation to eliminate local government authority to submit estimated cost claims. We review this proposal and conclude that, on balance, its benefits outweigh the loss to local governments from less timely reimbursement payments.
Infrastructure Bank Loan Program
February 20, 2008 - The Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) provides low cost loans to local governments for infrastructure projects that are supposed to promote economic development and improve land use. However, loans made by the I-Bank do not effectively meet these objectives. We recommend modifying the program to better target limited state funds.
State-Local Working Group Proposal to Improve the Mandate Process
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June 21, 2007 - Presented to Speaker Nunez
Implementation of the Housing Bond
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March 28, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Housing and Community Development
Improving the Mandate Process
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March 14, 2007 - Presented to School Finance Working Group
Improving the Mandate Process
February 21, 2007 - The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local governments for certain state mandates. The process for determining the existence of state mandates and providing local government reimbursements, however, has significant shortcomings. The administration’s proposal to reform this mandate process provides a good starting point for discussion. In this analysis, we review the administration’s proposal and offer the Legislature a similar, but more extensive, proposal that includes (1) simplifying the process for local governments to file reimbursement claims by placing greater emphasis on unit cost methodologies, (2) allowing mandate payment methodologies to be developed through negotiations between local government and the Department of Finance, and (3) establishing an alternate process to provide early settlement of mandate disputes and bypass the commission entirely.
Local Government Staff
- Ann Hollingshead
- (916) 319-8305
- State Budget and Federal Funding
- Lourdes Morales
- (916) 319-8320
- Local Government, Housing, and Homelessness
- Nick Schroeder
- (916) 319-8314
- Public Employment, CalPERS, and Elections
- Angela Short
- (916) 319-8309
- Teachers' Retirement Policy/ Child Welfare/ Community Care Licensing
- Seth Kerstein
- (916) 319-8365
- Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics