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January 13, 2020 - This report presents our office’s initial assessment of the Governor’s budget. We estimate the Governor had a $6 billion surplus to allocate to discretionary purposes in 2020-21. The Governor allocates most of the surplus toward one-time purposes, including maintaining a positive year-end balance in the state’s discretionary reserve. Under the administration’s estimates, total reserves would reach $20.5 billion at the end of 2020-21—this represents a $1.7 billion increase from the 2019-20 enacted level. California continues to enjoy a healthy fiscal situation. Despite its positive near-term picture, the budget’s multiyear outlook is subject to considerable uncertainty. In addition to describing the condition of the budget under the Governor’s proposal, this report discusses tools the Legislature can use to mitigate against these heightened risks.
January 20, 2020: Upon further review, one item included in the original version of Appendix Figure 3 on discretionary on health spending should not have been included (specfically, use of the Medi-Cal drug rebate fund to offset General Fund costs). Removing this item—which reduces General Fund spending—from the list of discretionary choices made in the Governor’s budget increases our calculation of the surplus to $6 billion. The document is updated to reflect these changes.
Update 1/24/20: Adjusted Judicial Branch items in Appendix Figure 1 to reflect ongoing spending.
January 6, 2020 - Chapter 831 of 2016 (SB 443, Mitchell) made various changes to the state’s asset forfeiture processes related to drugs. These changes generally make it more challenging for state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue certain asset forfeiture cases. Senate Bill 443 also requires our office to provide a report that contains data about the economic impact of these changes on state and local law enforcement budgets. This report responds to that requirement.
October 17, 2019 - This post describes the major features of the 2019-20 budget related to judicial and criminal justice programs. The 2019-20 budget provides $15.4 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, an increase of $514 million, or 3.5 percent, above the revised 2018-19 level.
October 16, 2019 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety
October 16, 2019 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety
July 1, 2019 - Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color
June 26, 2019 - This report presents our assessment of the State Bar as required by Business and Professions Code Section 6145. Specifically, our analysis focuses on evaluating the portion of the annual licensing fee charged to attorneys that is deposited into the State Bar’s General Fund and the State Bar’s request for a fee increase in 2020.
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
May 12, 2019 - Governor’s May Revision: Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Proposal