Understanding $100 Billion in Spending Growth: Causes and Fiscal Implications

Apr 28, 2026 - Similarly, the California Necessities Index, which tracks price changes for basic goods such as food and clothing and is relevant to human services programs, grew by 6.6  percent in 2021 compared to a five ‑year average of 3.6  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5176

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Oct 16, 2025 - While the state has various financial and accounting reports that allow policy makers and observers to track a variety of the state ’s outstanding liabilities, the administration does not produce an easily accessible, public list of the state ’s outstanding budgetary borrowing incurred to address recent deficits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5079

The 2026-27 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision

May 18, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision Appendix 1: General Fund Discretionary Spending Proposals in the 2026-27 May Revision
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5187/1

The 2020-21 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 10, 2020 - This means, under our recommendation, the state would contribute nearly $ 1  b illion over the three years using Proposition   2 t o make up for the loss. Retiree Health New Unfunded Retiree Health Liability Could Arise in the Future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4196

The 2025-26 Budget: Undertaking Fiscal Oversight

Feb 24, 2025 - In some cases, however, basic data tracking of high-level outcomes and/or metrics of program delivery are available. For example, programs typically have information about the rate of expenditure, number of people served, and services provided.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4983

The 2026-27 Budget: How to Use One-Time Revenue Improvements

Feb 20, 2026 - Figure 1 The State ’s New Wall of Debt (In Billions)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133

The 2026-27 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 12, 2026 - Implementing Immigrant Population ‑Related H.R. 1 Policies in Medi ‑Cal. As part of the state ’s required implementation of H.R. 1, the Governor proposes taking two discretionary actions related to immigrants that reduce state costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

The 2025-26 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - While this slowdown has been gradual and the severity milder than a recession, a look at recent economic data —as in Figure  1 —paints a picture of a sluggish economy. Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4939

The 2019-20 May Revision: Opportunity Zones

May 11, 2019 - To do so, we first matched each zip code that received investment with another zip code in California that (1)  was eligible but did not receive New Market Tax Credit investments and (2)  had residents with similar incomes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4038

An Update on California’s Cash Management Situation

Aug 31, 2020 - Figure 1 shows the state’s cash deficits and surpluses in a normal fiscal year. State Controller Uses a Variety of Techniques to Manage Cash Position. The General Fund ’s daily cash situation is monitored and managed by the State Controller ’s Office (SCO).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4266