The 2026-27 Budget: University of California

Feb 26, 2026 - UC reserves climbed the subsequent few years, likely in part due to heightened economic uncertainty. During the following years of economic expansion and reduced economic uncertainty, UC reserve levels declined.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143

Assessment of the Strong Workforce Program

Dec 10, 2025 - The Chancellor ’s Office allocates these funds across all local community college districts according to their count of CTE students who are economically disadvantaged. (Under the Perkins V program, students are typically identified as economically disadvantaged based on their receipt of need ‑based financial aid or other public assistance.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5098

Assessment of CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025

Dec 10, 2025 - While a new CSU graduation initiative likely would provide some state benefits (such as enhanced economic mobility), those benefits could be less sizable or less significant than the potential public benefits of other state programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5099

UC Merced at 20: Campus Developments and Key State-Level Takeaways

Nov 7, 2024 - Direct Economic Activity of New Campus Is Likely Similar to Other State Projects. A  substantial amount of the estimated economic activity associated with UC Merced is directly related to campus employment (payroll spending) and construction activity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4937

The 2025-26 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 6, 2025 - Of that amount, $777 million is reserved for economic uncertainties, which equates to 34 days of operations (or 9.1 percent of total annual core operating expenditures). UC reported $1.5 billion in total core reserves.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4957

California Community Colleges—Managing Cash in a Time of State Payment Deferrals

Dec 18, 2020 - Notable advantages are reducing districts ’ need for internal and external borrowing, reestablishing the link between ongoing program costs and ongoing funding, and giving the Legislature more budget tools to respond to future economic downturns.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4307

The 2025-26 Budget: University of California

Feb 27, 2025 - Uncommitted reserves for economic uncertainties, however, equated to less than one month of expenditures at all campuses. Cost Pressures UC ’s Workforce Is Large and Has Grown Notably Over Time. In April 2024, UC employed nearly 143,000 FTE campus employees (excluding medical centers).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4998

The 2025‑26 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

Nov 20, 2024 - Despite this economic weakness, total pay for California workers has been growing quickly. During  the first quarter of 2024, for example, total pay increased at an annualized rate of 17   percent —one of the strongest quarters on record.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4940

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - (On a technical basis, under the administration ’s estimates, we estimate the balance of the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties [SFEU] would be about $3  billion before the Governor ’s proposals.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

An Analysis of University Reserves

Nov 10, 2020 - In the near term, reserve data can help the Legislature monitor CSU ’s and UC ’s responses to the current economic downturn. In the years to come, reserve data would allow the Legislature to assess CSU ’s and UC ’s preparedness for future economic downturns.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4295