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Economy and Taxes Publications

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California’s Low-Wage Workers and Minimum Wage

March 11, 2024 - The first part of this report describes low-wage workers' occupations, genders, races/ethnicities, birthplaces, household structures, educational attainment, and weekly hours. The second part focuses on low-wage workers' ages. The third part compares the statewide minimum wage to various benchmarks to assess whether it is high, low, or somewhere in between.

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The 2024-25 Budget: Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

February 20, 2024 - We analyze the Governor's proposals for new spending at the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

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Overview of the State Small Business Credit Initiative

February 13, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration

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Local Sales Tax Revenue Allocation

November 15, 2023 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation

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Annual Report on Tax Exemptions for Medicinal Cannabis

June 14, 2023 - Chapter 837 of 2019 (SB 34, Wiener) established new tax exemptions for donations of medicinal cannabis. The law directs our office to submit an annual report containing data on three outcomes related to the exemptions: the number of medicinal cannabis patients served, the amount of medicinal cannabis products donated, and the amount of tax revenue lost. This report fulfills that statutory requirement for 2022.

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The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - This brief presents our office’s independent assessment of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2026‑27 under our forecast of revenues and spending, assuming the Governor’s May Revision policies were adopted.

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The 2023-24 Budget: California's Film Tax Credit

February 28, 2023 - This brief surveys research on the economic effects of state film tax credits and analyzes the Governor's proposal to extend California's film tax credit for five years.

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Effect of Returning to Historical Estimated Tax Payment Schedule

February 27, 2023 - Returning personal and corporate income tax estimated payment amounts to four equal payments, beginning in tax year 2024, would shift about 8 percent of personal income tax estimated payments and 13 percent of corporation estimated payments from 2023‑24 to 2024‑25. Returning to the historical payment schedule would have little net effect on revenue in 2024‑25. Specifically, while the change would shift roughly $5 billion from 2023‑24 to 2024‑25, the change also would have the effect of shifting a similar amount from 2024‑25 to 2025‑26. As a result, the net impact on 2024‑25 and later years would minimal.

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Overview of Gasoline Prices and Key Considerations for the Special Session

February 22, 2023 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications

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Tax Expenditure Evaluation

February 22, 2023 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation

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The 2023-24 Budget: Considering Inflation's Effects on State Programs

November 16, 2022 - This brief takes a case study approach to examine how elevated inflation has already impacted—and could continue to impact—state spending programs.

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2022 Update on the California Earned Income Tax Credit

October 3, 2022 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation

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Improving California’s Unemployment Insurance Program

August 8, 2022 - California's Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides wage replacement to unemployed workers. The program has faltered during recent downturns, causing hardship for workers and their families, holding back the state's economic recovery, and spurring frustration among Californians with their government. Recent failures trace back to the UI program's basic design, which results in more emphasis being placed on limiting fraud and business costs than making sure eligible workers get benefits quickly and easily. Although this emphasis is not new, the pandemic has highlighted the need to rebalance the UI program. We recommend about a dozen targeted changes to state practices to place a greater priority on getting payments to eligible unemployed workers.

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Proposition 31: Referendum on 2020 Law That Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products

August 2, 2022 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Health Assembly Committee on Health

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Annual Report on Tax Exemptions for Medicinal Cannabis

June 24, 2022 - Chapter 837 of 2019 (SB 34, Wiener) established new tax exemptions for donations of medicinal cannabis. The law directs our office to submit an annual report containing data on three outcomes related to the exemptions: the number of medicinal cannabis patients served, the amount of medicinal cannabis products donated, and the amount of tax revenue lost. This report fulfills that statutory requirement for 2021.

Economy and Taxes 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
 
Nick Schroeder
(916) 319-8314
Public Employment, CalPERS, Elections, Veterans Affairs
 
Brian Uhler
(916) 319-8328
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Economy, Taxes, and Labor
 
Seth Kerstein
(916) 319-8365
Sales and Excise Taxes and Demographics