Staff
Chas Alamo
(916) 319-8357
Personal Income Tax, Employment, and Labor Law
Ann Hollingshead
(916) 319-8305
State Budget and Federal Funding
Nick Schroeder
(916) 319-8314
Public Employment, CalPERS, Elections, Veterans Affairs
Angela Short
(916) 319-8309
Child Welfare, Child Support, Community Services and Development, Community Care Licensing, CalSTRS
Paul Steenhausen
(916) 319-8303
Local Government, Housing, and Homelessness
Alex Bentz
(916) 319-8312
Property Taxes, Bonds, and the Economy
Rowan Isaaks
(916) 319-8362
Corporation Tax and Economic Development
Seth Kerstein
(916) 319-8365
Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics


Publications

Other Government Areas

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Post

MOU Analysis: Unit 10 (Professional Scientific)

January 30, 2023 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding for Bargaining Unit 10 (Professional Scientific). Bargaining Unit 10 is represented by the California Association of Professional Scientists. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Report

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

January 13, 2023 - On January 10, 2023, Governor Newsom presented his proposed state budget to the Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the proposed budget based on our initial review. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release several additional budget analyses.


Handout

Enforcing Workplace Health and Safety Standards

November 15, 2022 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment


Handout

LAO Report Overview: California’s Unemployment Insurance Program

September 28, 2022 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review Assembly Committee on Insurance


Post

Unit 8 (Firefighters) MOU Analysis

August 26, 2022 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding for Bargaining Unit 8 (Firefighters). Bargaining Unit 8 is represented by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Firefighters (CalFire Local 2881). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Post

Unit 9 (Professional Engineers) MOU Analysis

August 25, 2022 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding for Bargaining Unit 9 (Professional Engineers). Bargaining Unit 9 is represented by Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Post

Unit 2 (Attorneys) MOU Analysis

August 25, 2022 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding for Bargaining Unit 2 (Attorneys and Hearing Officers). Bargaining Unit 2 is represented by the California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Government (CASE). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Post

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 18

August 12, 2022 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding for Bargaining Unit 18 (Psychiatric Technicians). Bargaining Unit 18 is represented by the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Post

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 13 (Stationary Engineers)

June 24, 2022 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 13 (stationary engineers). Bargaining Unit 13 is represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 39. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.


Post

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Workers and Employers

April 5, 2022 - In this report, we discuss ways climate change impacts workers and employers. This is one of a series of reports summarizing how climate change will impact different sectors across California.


Post

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

April 5, 2022 - This report contains four primary sections: (1) a description of the five key climate hazards affecting California, (2) the major ways those hazards impact sectors across the state, (3) significant existing state‑level efforts underway to address climate change impacts, and (4) key issues for the Legislature to consider in response to these impacts. This is one of a series of reports summarizing how climate change will impact different sectors across California.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: Analysis of the Care Economy Workforce Development Package

March 10, 2022 - This post analyzes the Governor’s proposed Care Economy Workforce Development Package. We provide an assessment and recommendations for both the package as a whole and for two specific components of the package.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: UC Climate-Related Proposals

February 16, 2022 - The Governor’s budget funds three UC climate‑related proposals focused on research, technology incubators, and workforce development. This post analyzes these proposals. It begins with a brief background section on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in California. It then has three sections analyzing each of the proposals in turn. This post is a companion to our main brief on UC budget issues, The 2022‑23 Budget: Analysis of Major UC Proposals.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: State Payments on the Federal Unemployment Insurance Loan

February 15, 2022 - In this post, we provide a projection of state and employer costs to repay the federal Unemployment Insurance loan under two economic scenarios, assess the effects of the Governor's proposed $3 billion General Fund payment toward the outstanding loan, and present an alternative to the Governor's proposal that could provide more immediate tax relief.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: Assessing Proposals to Address Unemployment Insurance Fraud

February 15, 2022 - In this post, we outline the challenges the Employment Development Department faced paying legitimate Unemployment Insurance claims and preventing fraud during the pandemic, review steps the department has taken to improve since then, and assess whether the six proposed anti-fraud vendor contracts are warranted at this time.

Update (5/16/24): Assessment section has been updated.