California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - The added risk variable weighs on the range of revenue outcomes that we view as most plausible. The middle of the range, which becomes our main revenue forecast, is thus lower than if we did not include the stock market risk indicator.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Oct 16, 2025 - During the special session, the Legislature added Control Sections 90.00 and 90.01 to the 2024 ‑25 Budget Act providing up to $2.5  billion one ‑time for response and recovery costs related to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5079

The 2017-18 Budget: California Spending Plan

Oct 18, 2017 - The General Fund view shows the user how the state spends its tax revenues over which the state has relative discretion, while the General Fund + Special Funds view arguably provides a more comprehensive look at total state spending in the budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3694/13

The 2016-17 Budget: California Spending Plan

Oct 5, 2016 - Mode: General Fund General Fund + Special Funds       The drop-down menu allows the user to switch between two views —General Fund and General Fund + Special Funds. The General Fund is the state 's main operating account where most state tax revenues are deposited.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3487/12

California's Legislative Analyst's Office and the Value of Independence

Nov 15, 2024 - As such, our independent fiscal assessment underlies the Legislature ’s ability to assert an informed check on the executive branch, making any added complexity from diverging estimates a worthwhile trade-off.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4938

The 2025-26 Budget: Undertaking Fiscal Oversight

Feb 24, 2025 - Special funds can be funded by fees paid by users for services, like entrance to state parks, or taxes levied on specific products, like tobacco or gasoline. Oversight of special funds and the associated activities also is an important area for legislative oversight, but it usually does not involve the same trade-offs as assessing the suite of General Fund programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4983

The 2025-26 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision

May 17, 2025 - Finally, although we have not previously recommended the Leg islature take decisive action to address the structural deficits, the state ’s persistent fiscal imbalance and the added downside risks —particularly from potential federal actions —suggest a need for a more proactive approach.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5044

The 2017-18 Budget: California Spending Plan

Oct 18, 2017 - These funds could be used for projects that implement voluntary settlement agreements between the state and water users (such as irrigation districts and water agencies). Such agreements are related to implementing the Bay ‑Delta Water Quality Control Plan and are intended to both improve ecological flow and habitat for fish and create water supply and regulatory certainty for water users.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3694/9

The 2025-26 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half. Similarly, the number of Californians who are unemployed is 25  percent higher than during the strong labor markets of 2019 and 2022.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4939

Federal COVID-19-Related Funding to California

Apr 28, 2020 - This section is organized according to the user or beneficiary of the funds, not the initial recipient. For example, some federal funds provided for education will be passed through California ’s Department of Education —at the state level —but will be used by school districts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4226