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 - The typical PE ratio since 1990 is 21 (19 if the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s is excluded). Similar to the price-to-earnings ratio, the home price-to-rent ratio is used to gauge if home prices are in line with underlying demand for housing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3829

Managing California’s Cash

Sep 3, 2019 - 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. Although the dot ‑com bust was relatively mild in economic terms, it hit the California budget —which is particularly reliant on the Bay Area ’s technology sector —especially hard.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4092

The 2017-18 Budget: Governor's Gann Limit Proposal

Mar 2, 2017 - As revenues surged during the dot ‑com boom of the late 1990s, however, the state approached the limit. The state had excess revenues in 1999 ‑00, but because appropriations were under the limit in 2000 ‑01, additional Proposition  98 spending and taxpayer rebates were not required.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3596

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - The budget provides $5  million in one-time General Fund for California Volunteers to offer grants to AmeriCorps programs to fund coaches at K-12 schools. This program has received limited-term funding in prior years, including $5  million in 2024-25.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - Figure  12 shows how the state ’s current taxable wage base and our recommendation compare to other states. If the state raised the maximum weekly benefit amount, the corresponding taxable wage base would also need to increase.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

The 2025-26 Budget: Update on Implementation of New Firearm and Ammunition Tax

Feb 19, 2025 - These funds would be allocated to school districts based on their share of statewide enrollment in grades 7 to 12. The budget package also required school districts to certify by July 2029 that a certain portion of their staff who work directly with students in grades 7 to 12 have received youth behavioral health training at least once.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4970

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - The Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund had a $2  million surplus in 2023-24 and entered 2024-25 with a $12  million balance. In principle, these resources, together with the proposed augmentation, should cover the cost of implementing these laws without any need to redirect resources away from other aspects of the licensing program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

Evaluation of a Tax Exemption for Zero-Emission Buses

Apr 15, 2024 - The standard useful life of a bus is 12 years, so CARB set these requirements with an eye toward completing the statewide transition to ZEBs by 2040. CARB Exempts Transit Agencies From ICT Requirements Under Some Conditions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4890

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - Under our outlook, Proposition  98 General Fund spending on schools and community colleges is $89  billion in 2026 ‑ 27 —nearly $12  billion above our projected 2023 ‑24 level and $5  billion higher than the administration ’s projection for 2026 ‑27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4772