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

May 5, 2025 - Which Water-Related Activities Qualify as State Mandates Has Been a Source of Disagreement. The water boards implement federal law through water quality permits. Because the California Constitution does not require the state to reimburse local governments for costs to comply with federal law, disagreements have arisen over the years about whether all of the requirements in a
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

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

May 30, 2025 - The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards The 2025‑26 Budget State Mandates —Regional Water Quality Control Boards Constitution Requires the State to Reimburse Local Governments for Mandated Activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

Post Election Manual Tally Mandate

Jan 13, 2016 - LAO Comments Post Election Manual Tally Mandate Would Be Added to Backlog. Under the Governor ’s proposal, county costs related to this mandate would be added to the existing backlog for mandate claims.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3327

The 2016-17 Budget: Local Government Mandates--Reasonable Reimbursement Methodology

Mar 17, 2016 - Background Mandate Determination and Payment Constitution Requires the State to Reimburse Local Governments for Mandated Activities. In 1979, voters passed Proposition 4, which added a requirement to the California Constitution that local governments be reimbursed for new programs or higher levels of service that the state imposes on them.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3395

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Costs for cities and counties might include adding drainage to roads to manage more intense rain events, or modifying water treatment plants located along the coast to accommodate higher sea levels. …And Private Residents and Businesses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

The 2020-21 Budget: U-Visa I-918 Form Mandate

Mar 4, 2020 - The Commission found that Penal Code Section 679.10 —as added by Chapter  721 —imposes new state-mandated activities and costs on local governments by requiring local governments to complete certification documents within specified deadlines, and to submit annual reports about the certifications to the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4192

The 2025-26 Budget: Oversight of Encampment Resolution Funding

Mar 5, 2025 - Due to a lack of adequate information to date on the program ’s activities and impact, and expected upcoming reports from grantees and the administration, we recommend the Legislature wait to decide on funding another ERF round until it receives compelling evidence that program goals are being met.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5007

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

May 12, 2021 - For cities, federal funds ranged from 0. 03 p ercent to 67percent of local revenues. (This small amount on the low end for cities largely is because small cities did not receive any CRF funding directly from the federal government.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4428

The 2019-20 May Revision: Opportunity Zones

May 11, 2019 - This added complexity could create increased administrative burdens for builders, lenders, and government agencies tasked with funding affordable housing. Added complexity also could open the possibility of unintended consequences or misuse of funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4038

SB 1 Has Doubled Major Source of State Funding for Local Streets and Roads

Jan 24, 2020 - Inflationary adjustments for all fuel excise taxes —both those previously existing and those added under SB   1 —will begin July 1, 2020. The legislation created two new vehicle fees: (1)  a transportation improvement fee and (2)  a road improvement fee.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4142