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

The 2026-27 Budget: State Mandate—Disclosure Requirements and Deferral of Property Taxation

Feb 19, 2026 - Under this proposal, Los Angeles County would not receive reimbursement for the required activities unless the mandate was funded (taken off suspension) in a future budget. LAO Comments Repeal Ongoing Aspect of Mandate by Eliminating Printing Requirement … We recommend the Legislature remove the disclosure requirement in Chapter  712, which would have the effect of repealing the mandate (and mandate costs) going forward.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5130

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - We identify some of the major actions taken in the 2025-26 budget process below. Dolly Parton ’s Imagination Library. The budget includes an estimated $39  million one-time General Fund for Dolly Parton ’s Imagination Library.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081

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 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - What steps has the administration taken to improve recruitment and retention of tobacco enforcement personnel? What additional steps could be taken? What will happen if CDTFA cannot expand its tobacco enforcement workforce despite its growing responsibilities?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - During the phase ‑in period, the state also entered the dot ‑com recession. These two cost pressures absorbed the remaining flexibility in the state ’s UI tax system. As  shown in Figure  4 , the state began this period in Schedule C but quickly moved to Schedule F+, the highest tax schedule, where it has remained since.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

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

Effect of Returning to Historical Estimated Tax Payment Schedule

Feb 27, 2023 - Most taxpayers meet this requirement through income tax withholding that is taken out of their regular paycheck. Businesses and some individuals with significant capital gains or other nonwage income instead make quarterly estimated tax payments to meet this state requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4722

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - Taken together, reducing spending and using reserves give the Legislature a few years to align revenues and spending as the economic picture unfolds. Introduction This brief presents our office ’s independent assessment of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2026 ‑27 under our forecast of revenues and spending, assuming the Governor ’s May Revision policies were adopted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4772