The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Housing, Homelessness and Local Government

Oct 22, 2025 - The 2025-26 Budget Act appropriates $100  million one-time General Fund for Round 5 of the ERF initiative —consistent with an agreement between the Legislature and Governor as part of June 2024 negotiations over the final 2024-25 Budget Act .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5082

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - To comply with this act, the water boards issue water quality permits —including stormwater discharge permits —to entities such as cities, counties, and businesses that discharge pollutants into water bodies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board [Publication Details]

May 5, 2025 - In this budget post, we discuss a municipal stormwater mandate issued by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2009 for local governments in Orange County.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5039

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards

May 30, 2025 - CSM has identified four new state-reimbursable mandates since enactment of the 2024-25 Budget Act . All four concern municipal stormwater permits issued by regional water quality control boards and costs incurred by local governments prior to 2018.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

Local Government Bankruptcy in California: Questions and Answers [Publication Details]

Aug 7, 2012 - These filings—occurring just months after the City of Vallejo completed its three year Chapter 9 process—have raised questions about the use of Chapter 9 in California. In this report, we answer some of the common questions about the Chapter 9 process for California local governments such as: which local governments are allowed to file for
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/2648

Local Government Bankruptcy in California: Questions and Answers - Local Government Bankruptcy in California: Questions and Answers [Video]

These filings —occurring just months after the City of Vallejo completed its three year Chapter 9 process —have raised questions about the use of Chapter 9 in California. In this video,  Fiscal and Policy Analyst Brian Uhler addresses questions about the use of Chapter 9 bankruptcy by municipalities in California.
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=28

Understanding Your Property Tax Bill - Calculating Your 1 Percent Tax [Video]

tagId=75 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Calculating Your 1 Percent Tax December 9, 2015 This animation walks through the basic steps of calculating a property owner ’s 1 percent   tax —the largest charge on most Californians ’ property tax bills.  
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=96

Understanding Your Property Tax Bill - The 1 Percent Tax—Where Does Your Money Go? [Video]

December 9, 2015 State law directs how your county auditor distributes revenue from the 1 percent tax to: Local Governments in Your County. This includes cities, the county, special districts, and schools and community college districts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=96&videoId=144

The 2022-23 Budget: Municipal Stormwater and Urban Runoff Discharges Mandate

Feb 28, 2022 - As noted, overarching regulatory requirements governing stormwater discharges are pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, and the act directs states to design permits based on local conditions to implement the law and reduce pollutants.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4565

An Initial Look at Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government Fiscal Condition

May 12, 2021 - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID ‑1 9) F EMA Reimbursement. On March  13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency in wake of the ongoing COVID ‑ 19 p andemic.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4428