Other Government Areas Publications
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A Budget Update
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April 24, 2008 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Recent Proposals for CalSTRS Purchasing Power Benefits
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April 22, 2008 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration
Recent Proposals for CalSTRS Purchasing Power Benefits
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April 7, 2008 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration
Recent Proposals Concerning the California Lottery
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March 11, 2008 - Presented to Senate Governmental Organization Committee
Under New Compacts, Special Distribution Fund Can Directly Affect the General Fund
February 20, 2008 - We describe how the passage of five 2007 Indian gambling compacts will affect the state’s General Fund and the Special Distribution Fund. We recommend that the Legislature take action to improve the state’s General Fund condition.
Legislative Considerations Regarding Changes to the Lottery
February 20, 2008 - The Governor has proposed leasing the California Lottery to a private concessionaire to improve its sales and generate funds for public purposes. The administration’s estimate that such a transaction could generate $37 billion is unrealistic. We recommend that the Legislature continue to explore methods to improve the performance of the Lottery.
Vacant Positions
February 20, 2008 - About 14 percent of state employee positions are vacant. In this piece, we discuss the factors that cause high vacancy levels. We recommend repealing an ineffective state law that purports to abolish vacant positions. In its place, we offer the Legislature some options to hold departments accountable for high vacancy rates.
Correctional Officer Pay, Benefits, and Labor Relations
February 7, 2008 - The administration proposes a 5 percent raise for correctional officers and legislation to allow it to impose a labor settlement on the officers’ union, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA). We find that the officers’ compensation levels are sufficient to allow the prisons to meet personnel needs at the present time, but we generally agree with other administration proposals to increase management control in prisons. We note that the dysfunctional relationship between the administration and CCPOA makes it more difficult to address the many issues facing the state’s prison and personnel management systems.
Comments on the Administration's Cash Management Proposals
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January 22, 2008 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair
California’s First Retiree Health Valuation: Questions and Answers
May 9, 2007 - The Legislature required the Controller to contract with actuaries for California's first valuation of unfunded state retiree health liabilities. On May 7, 2007, the Controller reported that the state's estimated unfunded liabilities total $48 billion. This report answers key questions concerning the valuation and identifies actions the Legislature could take to address the state's liabilities.
Fish and Game Warden Staffing and Compensation
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May 8, 2007 - Presented to Assembly and Senate Budget Committees
Retiree Health Benefits Presentation: Background and Policy Principles
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- PowerPoint
April 26, 2007 - Presented to the Public Employees Post-Employment Benefits Commission
Legislative Oversight of State Employee Compensation
February 21, 2007 - We focus on the process for setting compensation and recommend the Legislature improve the state’s employee compensation policies. Our recommendations are geared toward the Legislature focusing state employee compensation expenditures within the context of a balanced budget. Among our recommendations are for the Legislature to (1) limit the authority of arbitrators to order large payments under their interpretation of future labor agreements and (2) end the use of automatic pay raise formulas tied to actions by other governmental employers.
Update on Real ID Act
February 21, 2007 - It is virtually impossible for California—or any other state—to implement the Real ID Act by the federal deadline of May 2008. Federal regulations for implementing the act are expected to be delayed until July or August of 2007 and there is no federal plan to fund the costly mandate. Nonetheless, the administration has indicated that it may request funding to implement Real ID as part of the spring revision process. Given the current lack of information regarding federal requirements and funding, as well as growing opposition to the act in other states, we recommend the state go slowly for now, and limit spending to planning activities.
Other Government Areas Staff
- Chas Alamo
- (916) 319-8357
- Employment, Labor Law, and Property Taxes
- Ann Hollingshead
- (916) 319-8305
- State Budget and Federal Funding
- Lourdes Morales
- (916) 319-8320
- Local Government
- Jessica Peters
- (916) 319-8363
- Emergency Services and Business Regulation
- Nick Schroeder
- (916) 319-8314
- Public Employment, CalPERS, and Elections
- Brian Weatherford
- (916) 319-8337
- Corporation Tax and Insurance
- Angela Short
- (916) 319-8309
- Teachers' Retirement Policy/ Child Welfare/ Community Care Licensing
- Seth Kerstein
- (916) 319-8365
- Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics