Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession

Mar 7, 2018 - To put this in more concrete but very rough terms, a moderate recession, like the dot ‑com bust, could lead to a $ 40  b illion budget problem. A more mild recession might result in a $ 20  b illion budget problem.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3769

California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - Given that this deficit is estimated to range from $20  billion to $35  billion in the years ahead, addressing it gradually, rather than all at once, reduces fiscal disruption and more readily provides for legislative input and flexibility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

Evolution of the Balance of the Budget Stabilization Account

Nov 14, 2018 - Proposition  58 required BSA deposits to increase from 1  percent of General Fund revenues in 2006 ‑07 to 3  percent in 2008 ‑09 and every year thereafter. Proposition  58 Required Deposits Until BSA Reached Certain Size.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3900

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - Figure 3 General Fund Condition Under Fiscal Outlook (In Millions)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

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

Jan 13, 2024 - We Estimate the Administration Solved a Larger Budget Problem —$58   Billion. While the Governor cited a budget problem of $38  billion, we estimate the administration solved a budget problem of $58  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4825

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: Deficit Update

Feb 20, 2024 - The 2024-25 Budget: Deficit Update Deficit Update Under LAO Revenue Update, Budget Problem Grows by $15  Billion The state already faces a significant deficit this year — we estimate it totaled $58 billion under the administration’s revenue forecast at the time the Governor’s budget was proposed in January.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4850

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - In March of 2004, on the heels of the dot ‑com bust, voters passed Proposition  58, which created the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA). In the 2006 ‑07 budget, the Legislature deposited $472  million into the BSA and in 2007 ‑08 deposited $1.5  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 16, 2023 - The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version) Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version) Appendix 4: Large One-Time and Temporary Augmentations Transportation Appendix 4, Figure 1 Remaining Large One ‑Time and Temporary Augmentations From the 2021 ‑22 and 2022 ‑23 Budget Packages: Business and Labor General Fund (In millions) Begin new information technology overhaul
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4788/4

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

Jan 14, 2019 - Although the budget does not assume an extension of the MCO tax, it does propose the continued use of General Fund for the 7  p ercent restoration in 2019 ‑20. The cost of the 7  p ercent restoration is estimated to be $342. 3  m illion in 2019 ‑20.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3916