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Sales Taxation Of Bunker Fuel

January 25, 2001 - Based on our findings, we recommend that the Legislature remove the existing sunset for the current partial Sales and Use Tax (SUT) exemption for bunker fuel sales, and make the exemption permanent. This action would result in treating bunker fuel sales similarly to other export sales and place California ports on par with other U.S. out-of-state ports. We also recommend that the Legislature review the appropriateness of current SUT treatment of fuel sales to common carriers other than vessels, including air and rail common carriers.

Report

Improving State Oversight and Direction of Local Air Districts

January 24, 2001 - The state could do a better job at achieving its air quality goals if it exercised more effective oversight of the 35 local air districts. We think that a number of recent problems--including inconsistent and not fully effective local enforcement of air quality regulations--could have been reduced with such oversight. We make a number of recommendations to improve the state's role in air quality regulation.

Report

"E-Government" in California: Providing Services to Citizens Through the Internet

January 24, 2001 - It appears that there are a number of potential benefits from e-government implementation. We raise, though, a number of concerns about the direction that the state is taking in this area. We also outline specific qualities to look for before approving future e-government proposals and identify policy issues to address.

Report

An Evaluation of the School Facility Fee Affordable Housing Assistance Programs

January 18, 2001 - Proposition 1A of 1998 authorized $9.2 billion to finance school facilities. Its companion legislation appropriated $160 million to reimburse school facility fees paid for new homes. In this report we recommend that the Legislature eliminate the $60 million in scheduled appropriations for these reimbursements in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Report

California's Land Conservation Efforts: The Role of State Conservancies

January 5, 2001 - Because the state lacks a comprehensive land conservation plan, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of "conservancies" that acquire and protect undeveloped lands. We recommend that, in the short term, the Legislature limit the creation of additional conservancies and enact sunset review provisions for existing conservancies. In the longer term, we recommend a review of the state's overall approach to land conservation.

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Implementing Proposition 36: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

December 14, 2000 - We outline the implementation issues and challenges with regard to Proposition 36, the "Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000." We also make several recommendations. In our view, planning must begin now in order to ensure the effective implementation of the measure.

Report

Crime Prevention in California: Building Successful Programs

August 24, 2000 - The rising costs of operating the criminal justice system have prompted policymakers to consider directing resources toward crime prevention programs. We identify several problems with the state's existing crime prevention programs and recommend several actions the Legislature can take to increase the effectiveness of state crime prevention spending.

Report

California's Changing Income Distribution

August 10, 2000 - In recent decades the distribution of adjusted gross income reported on California tax returns has shifted significantly, with the share attributable to the top 20 percent of returns rising and that for the bottom 80 percent falling. We examine the changes in California's income distribution and their causes.

Report

Propositions 12 and 13--Parks and Water Bonds: Implementation Issues

May 25, 2000 - The two bond measures provide for a major investment in the state's natural resources. The purpose of the report is to identify actions the Legislature can take to ensure that the bond measures are implemented effectively, efficiently, and consistent with the Legislature's goals in enacting the measures. We also recommend actions to provide accountability for bond-funded expenditures.

Report

California Travels: Financing Our Transportation

May 11, 2000 - What is being done to address California's transportation problems? What are the fund sources and how much money is currently available? How are these funds distributed and who decides how dollars are spent? This graphically intensive publication seeks to answer these and other related questions.

Report

Extended School Year Program At Compton Unified School District: Report on Program Effectiveness

May 2, 2000 - The district has been unable to provide complete and reliable data to permit evaluation of the impact of the ESY program on student achievement. We recommend that the Legislature extend the program for two years, sharing the cost with the district.

Report

The State Appropriations Limit

April 12, 2000 - California's state appropriations limit (SAL)--which grows annually by a population and cost-of-living factor--places an "upper bound" each year on the amount of monies that can be spent from state tax proceeds. The SAL has not been a constraint throughout the 1990s. It could again become one if current revenue trends continue.

Report

California's Extraordinary Revenue Developments

April 6, 2000 - General Fund revenues have been accumulating at a dramatic pace in early 2000. If current strong trends continue through the end of the year, revenues in 1999-00 will exceed the administration's January budget forecast by more than $4 billion and our own February estimate by $2 billion. Our updated forecast of the state's fiscal condition for the current and budget years will be published following the May Revision. (Cal Update)

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Major Milestones: 43 Years of Care and Treatment Of the Mentally Ill

March 8, 2000 - The past 43 years in California have seen significant changes in the care and treatment of the mentally ill. We highlights the major events that have altered the administration and funding of the programs for the mentally ill since 1957.

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Highlights of the 2000-01 Analysis and P & I

February 17, 2000 - Summary of our examination of the 2000-01 Governor's Budget.