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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.)
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.
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.
June 24, 2008 - Informational for various items of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (various agenda pages).
June 13, 2008 - LAO Compromise for various items of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (various pages)
June 11, 2008 - Loans From Special Funds to the General Fund. Various Items of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee.
June 10, 2008 - LAO Compromise for Item 8380 of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (page 383).: Department of Personnel Administration
May 19, 2008 - The state faces a remaining budget shortfall of $15 billion, after accounting for the $7 billion in solutions adopted as part of the special session. We have updated our LAO alternative budget, which remains balanced through our forecast period, to reflect the state’s worsening fiscal situation. Our plan includes a more responsible lottery securitization—resulting in a General Fund benefit of $5.6 billion over two years—with a dramatically reduced risk to education’s lottery funding. Finally, we offer some much simpler approaches to increasing the size of the state’s reserve in good fiscal times.
April 24, 2008 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
April 7, 2008 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration
March 11, 2008 - Presented to Senate Governmental Organization Committee
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.
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.
January 22, 2008 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair