California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - After the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, it took four and five years, respectively, for revenues to recover. Incorporating revenue risk into the budget now, therefore, reflects prudence, not pessimism.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - Moreover, we estimate costs in other programs to be about $6  billion higher than anticipated. Starting in 2027 ‑28, we estimate structural deficits to grow to about $35  billion annually due to spending growth continuing to outstrip revenue growth.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

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

Feb 20, 2026 - In addition, recent budgets have relied on nearly $30  billion in borrowing to address deficits, and the Governor ’s budget proposes almost $6  billion in additional borrowing (see Figure  1). A period of strong revenue growth is not an appropriate time to draw down significant reserves or continue to rely on borrowing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133

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 2020-21 Budget: Overview of the California Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 5, 2020 - As a condition of receiving the funding, counties must show that they are in com pliance with state and federal public health requirements. Budget Provides $600   Million for Project Homekey and Related Services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4263

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 2018-19 Budget: California Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 2, 2018 - The Director of Finance is authorized to approve additional resources above $16. 6  m illion to the extent DMV is able to justify the resources and provide an update on how the $16. 6  m illion is to be used and its impact on wait times.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3870/10

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - Across all programs in this agency (including, for example, Medi ‑Cal, In ‑Home Supportive Services, developmental services, and child care), our estimates are $6  billion higher than the administration ’s projection by 2026 ‑27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4772

The 2016-17 Budget: California Spending Plan

Oct 5, 2016 - Of this amount, $6  million is for arts programs in underserved communities, and $800,000 is for a program to help inmates transition back into society. Additionally, the budget provides CAC with two positions and $4  million (increasing to $6  million in 2017 –18 ) in additional authority to receive reimbursements from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand the Arts –in –Corrections program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3487/11

The 2021-22 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 27, 2021 - (The full implementation costs of these ongoing proposals grow to $6. 6 b illion by 2025 ‑26.) Additionally, the budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars for continued temporary assistance related to the COVID ‑ 19 p andemic response and support in child welfare, In ‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and CalWORKs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4448