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Other Government Areas Publications

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Report

The 2015-16 May Revision: Review of Changes to Labor Contracts

May 15, 2015 - As part of the 2015-16 May Revision, the Governor proposes to establish a new process for reviewing changes to labor contracts. This analysis reviews the administration’s proposal and recommends that the Legislature adopt it with modifications to ensure legislative and public oversight.

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Health Benefits for Retired State Employees

March 16, 2015 - Health benefits for retired state employees constitute a large and growing cost for the State of California. The state’s retiree health benefit program constitutes the state’s last major liability that needs a funding plan. As part of his 2015-16 budget, the Governor proposes one approach to address retiree health liabilities through the collective bargaining process. In our report, we recommend that the policy committees of the Legislature hold hearings to discuss the Governor’s proposal—as well as other options to address retiree health liabilities—with actuaries, employee groups, policy experts, and the public. We acknowledge that a delay in implementing a funding plan might make some elements of a funding plan more expensive; however, we think it is more important to get the plan right that to quickly set up a plan that can be implemented in 2015-16.

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Staffing Cal/OSHA Enforcement Responsibilities

March 13, 2015 - To address the Governor's concerns with current Cal/OSHA enforcement, his budget proposes additional Cal/OSHA positions. We recommend that the Legislature approve the requested level of new positions. However, we emphasize that targeting planned inspections to those business establishments with the highest likelihood of improved compliance is critical to using planned inspection resources cost-effectively, and recommend that DIR report at legislative hearings on ongoing efforts to improve inspection targeting.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 13

August 25, 2014 - 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, Local 39. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 10

August 22, 2014 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 10 (Scientists). Bargaining Unit 10 is represented by the California Association of Professional Scientists. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 2

August 22, 2014 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 2 (Attorneys). Bargaining Unit 2 is represented by California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 10

May 29, 2014 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 10 (Scientists). Bargaining Unit 10 is represented by the California Association of Professional Scientists. If adopted, the MOU would modestly increase state costs beginning in 2014-15.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 13

May 19, 2014 - 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. If adopted, the MOU would modestly increase state costs beginning in 2014-15.

Report

Addressing California's Key Liabilities

May 7, 2014 - This report categorizes and provides information about $340 billion in California's key retirement, infrastructure, and budgetary liabilities. In addition, this report provides a framework for the Legislature to consider in prioritizing repayment of these liabilities and makes recommendations on which liabilities to pay down first and how the state could address such costs in the future. In general, we suggest that the Legislature prioritize actions to pay down those liabilities (1) with relatively high interest rates or (2) that result in benefits for groups or entities other than the state government. Due to its massive unfunded liability and relatively high growth rate, we recommend that the Legislature make a full funding plan for the California State Teachers' Retirement System a top priority in addressing the state's key liabilities.

Report

The 2014-15 Budget: State Worker Salary, Health Benefit, and Pension Costs

March 4, 2014 - The Governor's budget proposes $24 billion to pay salary and benefit costs for state workers in 2014-15, up from an estimated $23.5 billion in the current year. The increased costs reflect pay increases for most state workers, rising health and pension benefit costs, and a net increase in the number of state workers. In this report, we provide an overview of the state workforce, current collective bargaining agreements, and state employee compensation costs in 2014-15. We also discuss historical trends of state employee compensation costs and state worker take-home pay. We find that over the last two decades, after adjusting for inflation and state worker cost for health and retirement benefits, state worker take-home pay has remained largely flat while state costs per employee have grown significantly. In addition, assuming the number of state workers does not decline significantly, we expect the state's employee compensation costs to increase for the foreseeable future.

Handout

Funding CalSTRS

February 19, 2014 - This presentation to the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee describes the likely over-$5 billion annual cost of a plan to fully retire CalSTRS' unfunded liabilities over the next 30 years. The state and school districts likely will bear the majority of these costs. The presentation discusses options the state's leaders may have in developing the plan to address this huge funding problem over the long term.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 9

September 4, 2013 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 9. Bargaining Unit 9 is represented by the Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG).

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6

September 4, 2013 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 6. Bargaining Unit 6 is represented by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA).

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 7

September 3, 2013 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 7. Bargaining Unit 7 is represented by the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA). If adopted, the MOU would modestly increase state costs in 2013-14 with increasing costs in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 12

August 29, 2013 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 12. Bargaining Unit 12 is represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). If adopted, the MOU would modestly increase state costs in 2013-14. Depending on decisions made by the Department of Finance, state costs could increase further (1) in 2014-15 to provide a one-time payment of $1,200 to employees and (2) in 2015-16 to provide an ongoing 3 percent or 3.25 percent general salary increase.

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