Excess ERAF: A Review of the Calculations Affecting School Funding [Publication Details]

Mar 6, 2020 - We recently found that some counties are calculating excess ERAF in ways that seem contrary to state law and shift too much property tax revenue from schools to other agencies. We have three specific concerns related to the calculation of excess ERAF that together affect about $350 million in annual property tax revenue.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4193

Excess ERAF: A Review of the Calculations Affecting School Funding

Mar 6, 2020 - Property Tax Basics Many Local Agencies Receive Property Tax Revenue. Property owners in California pay a tax of at least 1  p ercent on the assessed value of their properties. The State Constitution requires the proceeds of the property tax to be allocated for local agencies in the county where the revenue is collected.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4193

Voluntary Contribution Tax "Check-Offs" [EconTax Blog]

Mar 4, 2020 - Voluntary Contribution Tax "Check-Offs" [EconTax Blog] Brian Weatherford Taxpayers May Donate to Charities When Paying Income Tax. State taxpayers may voluntarily contribute to one or more charitable funds and programs when they file their personal income tax returns.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/439

January 2020 State Tax Collections [EconTax Blog]

Feb 27, 2020 - January 2020 State Tax Collections [EconTax Blog] Seth Kerstein January revenue collections from the state ’s three largest taxes —the personal income tax, corporation tax, and sales tax —were ahead of Governor ’s Budget projections by $1.1 billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/438

The 2020-21 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 27, 2020 - The work group would have nine members, consisting of a lead, two members of the public, and one representative each from CSAC, the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Services, the Employment Deve lopment Department, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Scholarshare Investment Board.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4182

The 2020-21 Budget: Taxation of E-Cigarettes [Publication Details]

Feb 24, 2020 - We find that a tax based on nicotine content has some advantages. We also suggest that the Legislature consider a wide range of possible tax rates. Once the Legislature has chosen a rate, we recommend indexing the rate to inflation and revisiting it frequently to assess whether further adjustments are warranted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4171

The 2020-21 Budget: Taxation of E-Cigarettes

Feb 24, 2020 - How Would the Tax Rate Affect Compliance With the Tax? In general, we would expect higher tax rates to reduce tax compliance more than lower rates. For example, a higher tax rate would give consumers a stronger incentive to avoid the tax by purchasing e ‑cigarettes from out ‑of ‑state over the Internet.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4171

The 2020-21 Budget: Department of Social Services

Feb 24, 2020 - (Historically, the restoration was statutorily tied to the existence of the managed care organization [MCO] tax. The MCO tax expired at the end of 2018 ‑19. Even though the administration is continuing the 7  p ercent restoration for 2020 ‑21, the statutory language linking the restoration to the MCO tax remains.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4175

The 2020-21 Budget: Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget [Publication Details]

Feb 14, 2020 - We also discuss the administration’s recent submittal (late January 2020) of a modified managed care organization (MCO) tax proposal. We then provide analysis and recommendations on a series of key issues: (1) Recently proposed draft federal regulations referred to as the “Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation;” (2) proposals related to the Medi‑Cal pharmacy services benefit;
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4161

The 2020-21 Budget: The Governor’s Cannabis‑Related Proposals

Feb 14, 2020 - Modifications to Cannabis Tax Structure Are Needed Proposed Changes to Point of Collection Would Improve Tax Administration. We find that the proposed changes to the point of collection for the retail excise and cultivation tax should improve tax administration and compliance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4162