The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of Information Technology Project Proposals

Mar 17, 2023 - We generally refer to these new approaches as challenge-based procurements in the post. The goal of challenge-based procurements is to allow more bidders to offer solutions to the state’s complex problems, rather than requiring the state to pre-define solutions with detailed requirements-based solicitations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4746

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Bond to Fund Behavioral Health Facilities and Veterans Housing

Aug 17, 2023 - The bonds will be repaid over time using MH SA funds. NPLH has supported 247 projects and 7,852 housing units are anticipated. As of August 2022, 119 projects are under construction, 30 projects have been completed, and 498 units have units have been completed and are occupied.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4790

The 2026-27 Budget: Office of Emergency Services Next Generation 911 System

Feb 27, 2026 - This evaluation should include a clear identification of the challenges with the system as currently built and a discrete set of options to address those challenges, as well as defined cost and operational trade ‑offs for each option.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

The 2026-27 Budget: California Highway Patrol Proposals

Mar 6, 2026 - Moreover, given the scale of the state’s projected budget shortfall in the coming years, the option of relying upon the General Fund or other special funds to help cover the MVA expenditures will be challenging.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5152

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Review

Dec 2, 2025 - Ensuring Only Eligible Vendors Participate Has Been a Focus Ensuring That Only Eligible Vendors Participate Has Been an Historical Challenge With Violations Ranging From Inadvertent to Fraudulent. One historical challenge for programs like the state’s DVBE program, which directs procurement contracts to certain types of vendors, is preventing ineligible vendors from participating.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5095

Strengthening the CalSTRS Funding Plan

Mar 10, 2021 - A few aspects of the funding plan may impede the likelihood of its success, and also may result in challenges for stakeholders to oversee the plan ’s progress. Figure  13 summarizes the funding plan ’s complexities and key challenges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4400

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposed Reductions to State Operations

May 21, 2024 - To the extent that savings do not materialize, this proposal would create a larger future budget challenge. While this proposal may help the state reach a balanced budget “on paper, ” in reality, the unrealized savings would flow into the 2025-26 budget process and add to any fiscal challenges the Legislature is facing that year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4903

Challenges in Reviewing Recently Released $400 Million Deferred Maintenance Project List

May 11, 2016 - Challenges in Reviewing Recently Released $400 Million Deferred Maintenance Project List Total $500 List Is Lengthy, Includes Large Projects, and Provides Little Information. The Legislature ’s review of the administration ’s list will be challenging given the number of projects included (over 1,000) and the lack of detail on individual projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3457

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

Apr 3, 2025 - Reducing Costs Without Impacting Regulatory Activities May Be Challenging. The independent assessment of DFPI ’s financial condition identified annual salary adjustments (agency-wide) and start-up costs for new programs as the main sources of increased expenditures at DFPI.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5025

The 2025-26 Budget: Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement

Mar 11, 2025 - Specifically, we are uncertain how the administration is defining and evaluating Californians ’ “sense of belonging, ” which makes determining how to assess and respond to such a potential challenge exceptionally difficult.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5015