Other Government Areas Publications

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.

 

Handout

Informational Hearing on Debt Service

December 14, 2009 - Presented to the Assembly Budget Committee on December 14, 2009

Handout

Public Employee Pension and Retiree Health Costs in California

November 12, 2009 - Presented to the Council of State Governments, La Quinta, California

Report

Workers' Compensation: Recent Decisions Likely to Increase Benefits and Employer Costs

October 16, 2009 - Recent decisions by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) concluded that the current system used to measure permanent disability (PD) in workers' compensation claims can be challenged. This analysis discusses how the WCAB’s decisions could lead to (1) changes in PD ratings, (2) increased incentive for litigation, and (3) decreased uniformity in determining PD. Ultimately, the likely result would be increased benefits for workers and higher costs for businesses and governments.

Handout

Accountability and Oversight of the California Lottery

September 23, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review

Handout

Pending Proposal Concerning Highway Patrol Officer Retiree Health Benefits Funding

September 2, 2009 - On August 27, 2009, the administration presented to the Legislature a proposed addendum to the existing state employee labor agreement with Bargaining Unit 5 (California Highway Patrol [CHP] Officers). The proposal would amend the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act and increase state budgetary costs in some future years. This letter provides our office’s analysis of the proposal, similar to the analysis we routinely provide the JLBC with proposed labor agreements.

Handout

Budget Flexibility and Restrictions

August 18, 2009 - Presented to joint hearing of Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Reform and Senate Select Committee on Constitutional Reform

Handout

LAO Recommendations on Agency Elimination

June 12, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Handout

Administration's Cash Management Proposals

June 11, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Handout

An Overview of Government Reorganizations

June 3, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Handout

Conference Committee Update: California's Cash Flow Crisis

May 22, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Other

Webcast: Department of Real Estate--Opportunities to Improve Consumer Protection

May 12, 2009 - Author Greg Jolivette summarizes the findings of our recent report, Department of Real Estate: Opportunities to Improve Consumer Protection, in a three and one-half minute video.

Report

Department of Real Estate: Opportunities to Improve Consumer Protection

May 12, 2009 - In this report, we identify a number of deficiencies in the Department of Real Estate’s Licensing and Education Program and their Enforcement and Recovery Program. Our recommendations would tighten existing educational requirements, increase licensee accountability for violations of the real estate law, improve department accountability for program outcomes, and expand consumer access to—as well as oversight of—the Recovery Account. (Short video summary.)

Post

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21 (SEIU Local 1000)

March 6, 2009 - We review the administration's proposed labor agreements with SEIU Local 1000, the largest state employee union. The administration estimates that the state's net savings under the proposed agreements would be $337 million ($156 million General Fund) between now and June 2010--compared to costs negotiated in prior Local 1000 MOUs. We also discuss two alternate ways to view the costs of the proposed agreements--compared to costs under the Governor's previous two-day-per-month furlough plan and compared to costs included in the February budget package. The proposed agreements represent a cost increase for the state under both of these alternate methods.

Report

2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: General Government

January 30, 2009 - In this report, we identify issues and present recommendations related to the General Government portion of the budget. These include our belief that employee compensation reductions proposed by the Governor are necessary due to the magnitude of the budget problem. Nevertheless, we observe that the administration’s plans—especially savings from the furlough-will be difficult to achieve. We also note that due to the sagging economy and falling energy prices in recent months, our forecast for inflation is much lower than that used in the Governor's budget plan. Therefore we recommend the Legislature reject the price increase and direct departments to absorb any increases in operating expenses.

Other

Webcast: California's Cash Flow Crisis

January 14, 2009 - Deputy Legislative Analyst Michael Cohen and Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst Jason Dickerson the LAO report, California’s Cash Flow Crisis—the second in the LAO’s 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.

Other Government Areas Staff
Chas Alamo
(916) 319-8357
Personal Income Tax, Employment, and Labor Law
 
Ross Brown
(916) 319-8345
Property Taxes, Bonds, and the Economy
 
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
 
Jared Sippel
(916) 319-8335
Emergency Services and Business Regulation
 
Seth Kerstein
(916) 319-8365
Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics