Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - These problems are also clear when California ’s reserves are compared to other states —California ranks near the top in terms of revenue volatility, but below average in terms of reserves. As such, our recommendations are an honest reflection of the volatility in the state ’s tax system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

Federal Spending in California

Jan 18, 2017 - Among fifty states, California ranked 41 st on the Tax Foundation ’s measure, similar to the ranking in the New York Comptroller study. This is mostly because California, with its high population of high-income earners, pays more in federal taxes per person.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3531/2

The 2018-19 Budget: California Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 2, 2018 - Quality Support Programs Funds Inclusive Early Education Expansion Grants. The budget provides $ 167  m illion Proposition  98 General Fund for one ‑time competitive grants to school districts and other child care and preschool providers for the purpose of increasing access to inclusive early education programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3870/4

The 2024-25 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2024 - As a result, we consider these to be a type of spending-related solution because they typically result in lower overall state spending, inclusive of all funds. We estimate the May Revision includes $5  billion in fund shifts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4902

Federal Spending in California

Jan 18, 2017 - Most of the difference is attributable to differences in our estimates of grants spending and our inclusion of significant refundable tax credits as components of federal sp ending. While our estimate is not comparable with multi-state estimates, our approach does allow us to display spending amounts at a more detailed level and with more precision and detail than others.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3531/7

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2024 - As a result, we consider these to be a type of spending‑related solution because they typically result in lower overall state spending, inclusive of all funds. We estimate the Governor’s budget includes $6 billion in fund shifts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4825

The 2015-16 Budget: Major Features of the Adopted Plan (Other Issues)

Jun 19, 2015 - In the case of rank-and-file employees subject to collective bargaining, the Governor may not order prefunding these benefits except upon legislative approval of future labor agreements or other legislation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3278

Strong Tax Collections Belie California's Challenging Fiscal Outlook

Apr 26, 2022 - While this partly reflects the inclusion of large one-time spending proposals that could be altered, it does not account for future SAL requirements. Our main recommendation —to reject $10 billion of the Governor ’s non-SAL-excludable spending proposals and instead save the funds —would help the state ’s fiscal outlook in two ways.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4590

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Nov 8, 2023 - Additionally, the budget package adds staff at both the California Film Co mmission Board and California Film Commission who will be focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the film industry.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4814

Tempered Expectations

Dec 9, 2019 - In 2020-21, the Budget Stabilization Account balance reaches $18.3  billion with total budget reserves —inclusive of our estimated surplus —approaching $26  billion. Despite these large surpluses and reserves, our central recommendation is that the Legislature limit its new ongoing commitments to approximately $1  billion or less in the upcoming budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4122