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February 19, 2003 - We review the administration's report, 2002: California's Five-Year Infrastructure Plan, its first legislatively mandated plan for funding public sector capital outlay needs. We examine its strengths and suggest improvements for future plans. (Reprint.)
February 5, 2003 - Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11, which will appear on the March 2004 statewide ballot, would establish the California Twenty-First Century Infrastructure Investment Fund, a dedicated financing source for state and local infrastructure projects. We provide background on state capital outlay planning and funding, explain how the measure works, and describe the measure's potential fiscal impact.
December 19, 2002 - We review the administration's report, 2002: California's Five-Year Infrastructure Plan, its first legislatively mandated plan for funding public sector capital outlay needs. We examine its strengths and suggest improvements for future plans.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend the Legislature provide funding for higher education capital outlay based on statewide priorities and criteria, using reasonable construction cost guidelines, and based on year-round operation. We also recommend the Legislature consider the extent to which existing buildings at a campus are underutilized when making capital outlay funding decisions, and consider UC research revenue as a primary source of funding for UC research facilities.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend that the Legislature ask the Bureau of State Audits to conduct a performance audit of the Department of General Services relative to its project management activities to evaluate (1) the appropriateness of fees charged, (2) the method of determining fee levels, and (3) the quality control process in place for budget development.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend the Legislature defer approval of new capital outlay projects until the infrastructure plan has been submitted and the Legislature has had an opportunity to review it. We also recommend the Legislature appoint a select committee to make recommendations on how the Legislature might effectively respond to the infrastructure plan when it is submitted.
January 31, 2002 - We find that three key types of building standards are not being used uniformly by the three segments of higher education. This has resulted in construction costs that are higher than necessary and possible over-statement of facilities needs. As a result, we recommend various improvements to make standards more useful to the Legislature.
May 1, 2001 - When the state issues a bond to pay part of the cost of constructing and remodeling schools, school districts are unsure when and how much funding will be available, or what rules will govern eligibility. We recommend that the state identify the average cost of providing educational facilities and provide a share of this amount to every school district as an annual, per-pupil, facilities grant.
February 21, 2001 - We recommend the Legislature provide funding for higher education capital outlay based on statewide priorities and criteria, using reasonable construction cost guidelines, and on the basis of year-round operations.
February 21, 2001 - Beginning in the 2002-03 budget year the Governor is required to submit to the Legislature a California Infrastructure Plan. We recommend the Legislature hold hearings and develop requirements for information it needs to have included in the plan about departments' strategic plans, priorities, and projects.
February 17, 2000 - We recommend that the Legislature evaluate capital outlay proposals by the three segments as a statewide system rather than independent segments and apply statewide guidelines when making funding decisions. This will allow the state to use limited resources to maximum effect.