California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - After the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, it took four and five years, respectively, for revenues to recover. Incorporating revenue risk into the budget now, therefore, reflects prudence, not pessimism.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession

Mar 7, 2018 - This would consist of two amounts: $13. 5  b illion in the BSA and $2. 3  b illion in the SFEU. The administration currently estimates a very small “true down ” to the BSA in 2017 ‑18, although that may change at the time of the May Revision.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3769

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - This is about $5  billion larger than the budget problem anticipated by the administration in June,  despite improvements in revenue. This is because constitutional spending requirements under Proposition  98 (1988) and Proposition  2 (2014) almost entirely offset revenue gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

Long-term Capacity for Debt Payments Under Proposition 2

Dec 21, 2017 - Provisions of Proposition  2 Key Provisions of Proposition  2. Proposition  2 requires the state to make: (1) minimum annual payments toward certain eligible debts (until 2029 ‑30) and (2) deposits into the state ’s rainy day fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3727

Whether or Not to Tap Reserves to Solve Estimated Budget Problem Emerges as Key Fiscal Decision Facing California’s Legislature

Apr 19, 2023 - Other downturns, such as the 2001 so-called dot-com recession, had severe fiscal implications while inflicting somewhat milder economic damage. The 2008 Great Recession had brutal effects on both the state ’s economy and budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4762

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 20, 2024 - Proposition 2 Proposition   2 Contains Annual Debt Payment Requirement. Proposition  2 created new rules regarding: (1)  deposits into the state ’s rainy ‑day fund and (2)  accelerating payments toward certain eligible debts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4887

The 2018-19 May Revision: LAO Economic Outlook

May 12, 2018 - Figure 2 LAO May 2018 Economic Growth Scenario a Percent Change Unless Otherwise Indicated 2017
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3829

Managing California’s Cash

Sep 3, 2019 - The early 1990s were marked by a series of sales of RANs and RAWs —at the time, the largest such sales in the state ’s history (see Figure  5). Second Cash Crunch in Early 2000s. After a period of relative calm in the mid ‑ and late ‑1990s, California faced another series of years with acute budget problems following the dot ‑com bust and ensuing recession.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4092

The 2019-20 Budget: California Spending Plan—Debt Liabilities

Oct 17, 2019 - At the beginning of that fiscal year, the state owed over $5  billion in outstanding special fund loans. (This amount excludes weight fee loans as described later in this section.) After Proposition  2 passed in 2014, the state had a dedicated funding source with which to address these outstanding loans and repayments accelerated.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4106

The 2021-22 Budget: The Governor’s Proposition 2 Proposals

Apr 26, 2021 - The 2021-22 Budget: The Governor’s Proposition 2 Proposals The Governor ’s Proposition  2 Proposals Introduction Passed by voters in 2014, Proposition  2 changed budgeting practices concerning: (1)  reserves and (2)  debt payments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4418