Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession

Mar 7, 2018 - By most measures, the recession of the early 1990s was more severe than the dot ‑com bust in the early 2000s. For example, unemployment in California reached 9. 7  p ercent in mid ‑ to late ‑1992, but peaked at 6. 9  p ercent after the dot ‑com bust.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3769

The 2018-19 May Revision: LAO Economic Outlook

May 12, 2018 - One key difference between our office and the administration is that our economic scenario assumes notably higher wage and salary growth in 2018 and 2019. Figure 1 Comparing Recent California Economic Scenarios Percent Change Unless Indicated Target federal funds rate (percent) 1.6 S &P 500 (annual average) 2,612 73 61 a An economic growth scenario based on Moody ’s Analytics ’ April 2018 U.S.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3829

The 2019-20 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 14, 2019 - The 2018 ‑ 19 b udget approved the first step of this plan by providing an across ‑the ‑board 10  p ercent grant increase effective April 1, 2019. The Governor ’s budget proposes to further increase CalWORKs grants by 13. 1  p ercent, which would raise grant levels to 50  p ercent of FPL for a family of three.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3916

Managing California’s Cash

Sep 3, 2019 - The average daily balance of the PMIA was $97. 7  b illion for the second quarter of 2019, although it was $74. 1  b illion excluding local governments ’ funds. The balance of the PMIA has also grown remarkably in recent years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4092

Annual Report on Tax Exemptions for Medicinal Cannabis

Jun 24, 2025 - As shown in Figure  1, licensees donated a wide variety of products in 2024. Figure 1 Amounts of Products Donated Under SB 34 Exemption in 2024 Product
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5059

Local Sales Tax Rebates in 2023-24

Sep 16, 2025 - In 2019, the Governor vetoed SB  531 (Glazer), which would have enacted further restrictions. The veto message described these agreements as “an important local tool that captures additional economic activity, particularly in rural and inland California cities that continue to face significant economic challenges like high unemployment rates. ” 2024 Law Requires Disclosure of Local Sales Tax Rebates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5074

The 2026-27 Budget: California Competes Extension

Mar 18, 2026 - Figure  1 shows the value of credits claimed each year since the program ’s inception in 2014. Because applicants must provide sufficient evidence that the credit will influence their employment and investment decisions in the state, GO-Biz often does not award all tax credits available to be allocated in a given fiscal year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5162

The 2026-27 Budget: State Mandate—Disclosure Requirements and Deferral of Property Taxation

Feb 19, 2026 - The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local governments when (1)  new state laws or regulations mandate that they implement a new program or higher level of service and (2)  the local government does not have offsetting revenues available to fully cover the associated costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5130

The 2026-27 Budget: CDTFA’s Cannabis and Tobacco Programs

Feb 23, 2026 - Assembly Bill  573 requires our office to publish a report on tobacco retail enforcement by December 1, 2027. If this could lead to budget adjustments, the Legislature may wish to schedule some of the proposed funding to expire after 2027 ‑28.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - During the phase ‑in period, the state also entered the dot ‑com recession. These two cost pressures absorbed the remaining flexibility in the state ’s UI tax system. As  shown in Figure  4 , the state began this period in Schedule C but quickly moved to Schedule F+, the highest tax schedule, where it has remained since.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943