The 2025-26 Budget: EDDNext

Feb 25, 2025 - Integrated Contact Center This project seeks to modernize the department ’s contact center through (among other improvements) additional self ‑service options, enhanced voice recognition, and multi ‑language functionality.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4985

The 2025-26 Budget: Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Mar 18, 2025 - Funding another round of California Competes grants could create jobs at a time when private sector job growth has been sluggish. However, we recommend viewing grants as a supplement to the California Competes tax credit rather than a core part of the program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5018

The 2019-20 Budget: The Governor’s Proposed Supplemental Pension Payment to CalPERS

Mar 4, 2019 - State employee salaries are paid by the General Fund or other funds, depending on the employees ’ work. Employee benefits —like pensions —are paid by the same fund as the employees ’ salaries. Employer contributions to CalPERS are based on payroll.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3957

Federal Assistance for Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Apr 3, 2020 - This program subsidizes small businesses so that they continue paying employee salaries and other bills while their revenues are reduced by the current public health efforts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4215

Update on COVID-19 Spending in California

Nov 5, 2020 - This post also excludes redirections of resources, for example, state employees whose job functions have changed as a result of the pandemic. While this post reflects our best understanding of COVID-19 spending at this time, these activities remain ongoing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4292

The 2025-26 Budget: State Departments’ Operational Efficiencies (Control Sections 4.05 and 4.12)

Feb 19, 2025 - The administration has not committed to a specific date, but we suspect this most likely means that the final report could be included as part of the Governor ’s May Revision proposal. There likely will be insufficient time for the subcommittees to discuss each identified saving with departments between May 14 (when the May Revision is released) and June 15 (when the Legislature approves a budget).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4975

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

Mar 11, 2025 - Applicants must also meet one of the following conditions: (1)  qualify for a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Middle Class Scholarship (MCS); (2)  need to work part time to cover education costs; or (3)  have borrowed student loans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5015

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - To the extent that tax avoidance could be a large part of the story, the size of the revenue loss highlights the importance of efforts to enforce tobacco tax laws. CDTFA ’s Enforcement Activities Spending on CDTFA ’s Tobacco Programs Has Declined.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

Improving Legislative Oversight of Emergency Authorities

Apr 10, 2025 - Redirecting state employees —also during the COVID ‑19 pandemic —to “contact tracing ” activities, which involves conducting case investigations and notifying people who may have been exposed to the virus of the need to  quarantine.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5029

An Overview of Federal Higher Education Relief

Apr 28, 2020 - Federal aid comes in the form of loans, grants, and work-study (which provides part-time jobs to financially needy students). In federal fiscal year (FFY) 2019 ‑20, students at California institutions are receiving an estimated $8.5  billion in federal loans, $4  billion in Pell Grants, $108  million in Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and $136  million in Federal Work-Study funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4225