Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession

Mar 7, 2018 - These actions reduce the size of a potential budget problem later. During a recession, if a budget problem persists, the state must take actions to address it. These actions include spending cuts, revenue increases, and cost shifts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3769

The 2018-19 May Revision: LAO Economic Outlook

May 12, 2018 - The typical PE ratio since 1990 is 21 (19 if the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s is excluded). 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.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3829

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 2026-27 Budget: CDTFA’s Cannabis and Tobacco Programs

Feb 23, 2026 - As far as we know, Proposition  64 and the Legislature ’s budget actions have not conveyed any intent to use the General Fund to support the Cannabis Tax Program. In contrast, as noted above, Proposition  64 authorizes continuous appropriations from the Cannabis Tax Fund to pay for the Cannabis Tax Program, requiring no action by the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - We identify some of the major actions taken in the 2025-26 budget process below. Dolly Parton ’s Imagination Library. The budget includes an estimated $39  million one-time General Fund for Dolly Parton ’s Imagination Library.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081

The 2017-18 Budget: Governor's Gann Limit Proposal

Mar 2, 2017 - As revenues surged during the dot ‑com boom of the late 1990s, however, the state approached the limit. The state had excess revenues in 1999 ‑00, but because appropriations were under the limit in 2000 ‑01, additional Proposition  98 spending and taxpayer rebates were not required.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3596

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - During the phase ‑in period, the state also entered the dot ‑com recession. These two cost pressures absorbed the remaining flexibility in the state ’s UI tax system. As  shown in Figure  4 , the state began this period in Schedule C but quickly moved to Schedule F+, the highest tax schedule, where it has remained since.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - This makes each inspection more productive but also more resource-intensive due to the staff time associated with enforcement actions. Many Possible Explanations for Trends in Citations and Seizures.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

Evaluation of a Tax Exemption for Zero-Emission Buses

Apr 15, 2024 - State statutes establish goals for reducing statewide GHG emission and direct the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to take regulatory actions to meet these goals. In December 2018, CARB adopted the ICT regulation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4890

Improving California’s Unemployment Insurance Program

Aug 8, 2022 - Without safeguards to make sure eligible workers can get benefits easily, the state ’s policies and actions have tilted the UI program out of balance. Individually, policies and actions aimed at preventing fraud may appear justified and reasonable.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4615