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The 2024-25 Budget: State Employee Compensation


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The 2024-25 Budget: Proposed Reductions to State Operations

May 21, 2024 - The Governor’s May Revision proposes to (1) administratively establish a new ongoing unallocated 7.95 percent reduction to state operation expenditures and (2) make the 2024-25 unallocated reduction to state operation expenditures related to vacant positions ongoing (it was approved as “one time” as part of the Legislature’s early action package). Between the two proposals, the administration proposes that the Legislature delegate responsibility to the Governor to determine how to permanently reduce state operations by roughly 10 percent. As we discuss in this post, we think there is merit to the Department of Finance finding operational efficiencies; however, (1) any resulting reductions would be made based on the Governor's priorities and not necessarily the Legislature's priorities and (2) we think there is a high risk that the level of savings assumed from these two unallocated reductions will not fully materialize in 2024-25. To the extent that savings do not materialize, these proposals would create a larger future budget challenge.

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[PDF] Initial Assessment of Proposed Labor Agreements: Units 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, and 21

August 29, 2023 - Initial Assessment of Proposed Labor Agreements: Units 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, and 21

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 5 (Highway Patrol)

August 23, 2024 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 5 (Highway Patrol). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 12 (Craft and Maintenance)

September 1, 2023 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 12 (Craft and Maintenance). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: California State University

February 15, 2024 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals for the California State University (CSU). We also revisit recent CSU one-time initiatives and capital projects.

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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.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 8 (Firefighters)

August 14, 2024 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 8 (Firefighters). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 10 (Professional Scientific)

August 14, 2024 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 10 (Professional Scientific). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

September 6, 2024 - Each year, our office publishes the California Spending Plan to summarize the annual state budget. This publication provides an overview of the 2024‑25 Budget Act, gives a brief description of how the budget process unfolded, and then highlights major features of the budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. All figures in this publication reflect actions taken through early July 2024, but we have updated the narrative to reflect actions taken later in the legislative session.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21 (SEIU Local 1000)

September 7, 2023 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the nine bargaining units represented by Service Employees International Union, Local 1000. This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 16 (Physicians)

September 7, 2023 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 16 (Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections)

September 7, 2023 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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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.

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2017-18 Budget: Control Section 4.11—Position Transparency

March 24, 2017 - We recommend that the Legislature amend the proposed budget bill language for Control Section 4.11 to improve transparency and legislative oversight over the state’s workforce.

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Unit 2 (Attorneys) MOU Analysis

September 12, 2019 - We reviewed the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Bargaining Unit 2 (Attorneys and Hearing Officers). This review is pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code.

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The 2020-21 Budget: Labor Agreements to Achieve Budgetary Savings

September 9, 2020 - The budget assumes that employee compensation is reduced by up to 10 percent in 2020-21. This analysis provides a historical record of all the labor agreements between the state and its employees to reduce state costs in 2020-21 and—in most cases—2021-22. In addition, this analysis looks forward and provides comments and recommendations to help the Legislature think through future decisions to reduce employee compensation should the budget problem persist beyond 2021-22.

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The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

November 8, 2023 - This post discusses features of the state's spending plan that were not covered elsewhere in the 2023-24 Spending Plan series.