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636 Publications Found
February 20, 2002 - We raise concerns with the Governor's proposal to (1) eliminate the General Fund support for emergency fire suppression, (2) reduce General Fund expenditures for "day-to-day" firefighting activities by increasing reimbursements, and (3) eliminate an existing legislative notification requirement. We also offer options for the Legislature to consider for funding fire protection services.
February 20, 2002 - We discuss the state's school accountability system, with emphasis on aspects of the system concerned with improving performance at so-called "low-performing" schools. We also discuss challenges posed for the state's accountability efforts by recent changes in federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend that the Legislature (1) redirect $625 million requested for the "Instructional Materials Realignment Initiative" to our recommended Academic Improvement Block Grant and (2) deny requested advance appropriations totaling $1.95 billion for fiscal years 2003-04 through 2006-07.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend that the Legislature consolidate 51 K-12 programs into five categorical block grants, because greater local flexibility should lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness in meeting specified educational needs.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend that, to the extent funds are available, the Legislature provide budget-year funding to continue revenue limit equalization ($42 million) and a reduced Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) offset to revenue limits ($36 million) because these programs (1) provide general purpose funds to local education agencies (LEAs) and (2) meet important legislative priorities.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend the Legislature consolidate 18 existing programs and create a new formula-based block grant to increase local flexibility and effectiveness is supporting teacher development. The block grant would provide a total of $722 million of Proposition 98 funds that school districts could use for teacher support and professional development activities.
February 20, 2002 - We discuss the implications of the proposal in the Governor's Budget to delay reimbursement of the $66.7 million budget-year appropriation for the School Bus Safety II mandate and suspend six other education mandates.
February 20, 2002 - The Legislature's action regarding the budget's proposal to defer employer contributions to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) has important implications for the Legislature's efforts to craft a K-14 education budget.
February 20, 2002 - A crucial issue is posed for the Legislature by a potential General Fund increase needed for Proposition 98 of about $825 million. We discuss ways for the Legislature to act strategically in response to this challenge, in order to minimize impacts on non-Proposition 98 programs, yet still meet important K-14 education priorities.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend the Legislature provide funding for higher education capital outlay based on statewide priorities and criteria, using reasonable construction cost guidelines, and based on year-round operation. We also recommend the Legislature consider the extent to which existing buildings at a campus are underutilized when making capital outlay funding decisions, and consider UC research revenue as a primary source of funding for UC research facilities.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend that the Legislature ask the Bureau of State Audits to conduct a performance audit of the Department of General Services relative to its project management activities to evaluate (1) the appropriateness of fees charged, (2) the method of determining fee levels, and (3) the quality control process in place for budget development.
February 20, 2002 - We recommend the Legislature defer approval of new capital outlay projects until the infrastructure plan has been submitted and the Legislature has had an opportunity to review it. We also recommend the Legislature appoint a select committee to make recommendations on how the Legislature might effectively respond to the infrastructure plan when it is submitted.