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

Feb 20, 2026 - Our Revenue Estimates Consistent With $2.5  Billion Upgrade to Budget Bottom Line Compared to January. Our recent revenue post suggests an improvement in revenues of around $5 billion relative to the Governor’s budget estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133

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

Jan 12, 2026 - First, the budget includes about ten budget solutions —proposals that create budget capacity, improving the budget ’s bottom line —and they total around $9  billion. Second, the Governor ’s budget includes about 60 discretionary spending proposals —proposals that use budget capacity, eroding the budget ’s bottom line —and these total about $600  million.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - However, our Fiscal Outlook revenue forecast, shown in Figure  2 , reflects a smaller, temporary upgrade which reverses beginning in 2026 ‑ 27 —resulting in 2026 ‑27 revenues being in line with budget act estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

The 2024-25 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2024 - The dark line shows the administration ’s forecast of revenues in the May Revision. The light green line shows the amount of revenue the state would need to “break even ” —that is, the level of revenue the state would need to be able to afford the level of spending proposed in the May Revision.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4907

The 2025-26 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision

May 17, 2025 - All Other Changes Improve Budget Bottom Line by $2   Billion. Across the rest of the budget, the administration estimates a net improvement of $2  billion to the General Fund bottom line. The  largest component is a $1.5  billion upward revision to the entering fund balance, primarily driven by higher ‑than ‑expected reversions of unspent funds and lower required Proposition  2 (2014) debt payments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5044

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

Jan 13, 2025 - On a net basis, these items slightly improve the budget’s bottom line. Neither our November estimates nor the administration ’s estimates included any costs associated with the devastating wildfires in Southern California, as both were developed before those wildfires began.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2018-19 May Revision: LAO Multiyear State Budget Outlook

May 17, 2018 - Because some major bargaining agreements expire early in the outlook period, these different assumptions have a significant effect on our bottom-line numbers. LAO Comments Uncertainties in the Longer-Term Outlook.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3843

The 2018-19 May Revision: LAO Economic Outlook

May 12, 2018 - 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. While price-to-rent ratios for the state as a whole appear to be in line with historic norms, ce rtain housing markets in the San Francisco Bay Area appear to be a little overheated .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3829

The 2011-12 Budget: Overview of the May Revision [Publication Details]

May 19, 2011 - It would help bring annual spending and resources much closer in line for the next five years, and its focus on reducing budgetary debt obligations is laudable. On the other hand, the Legislature has other options to address the reduced budget shortfall, including adoption of alternative tax proposals, additional program reductions, and selected fund transfers and internal borrowing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/2482

The 2016-17 Budget: California Spending Plan

Oct 5, 2016 - Bottom line: The General Fund view shows the user how the state spends its tax revenues over which the state has relative discretion, while the General Fund + Special Funds view arguably provides a more comprehensive look at total state spending in the budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3487/12