The 2025-26 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - Instead, much of the bounce appears to be tied to special forms of pay for high ‑income workers, such as bonuses and stock  compensation. Booming Stock Market Driving Income Growth. The recent run ‑up in the stock market, which appears tied to optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, is a primary driver of the rapid growth in pay to high ‑income workers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4939

^[PDF] For example, the Los Angeles court offered an

For example, the Los Angeles court offered an up to $50,000 signing bonus for a new full-time court reporter employee (with a specified amount payable after every six months) that remained employed for two years in Hon.
https://lao.ca.gov/letters/2024/Letter-Umberg-Court-Reporters-030524.pdf

The 2022-23 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook

Nov 17, 2021 - Operating Surplus of $5 Billion in 2022 ‑23. In addition to the factors described above, which are revisions to the 2021 ‑22 Budget Act , our outlook anticipates the state will have an additional $5.2 billion operating surplus in 2022 ‑23.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4472

Why Has Income Tax Withholding Lagged, Despite Job Growth? [EconTax Blog]

Nov 16, 2022 - However, income tax withholding  also is due on salary bonuses and stock options employees receive. PIT Withholding Down from Last Year. The graph below compares the running total of PIT withholding payments since the start of the 2022-23 fiscal year relative to the same period last year.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/759

California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness [EconTax Blog]

Sep 30, 2025 - California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness [EconTax Blog] California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness September 30, 2025 Chas Alamo Recap: What Does the Main Monthly Jobs Report Tell Us?  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/839

California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness [EconTax Blog]

Sep 30, 2025 - California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness [EconTax Blog] California Labor Market Showing Broad Signs of Weakness September 30, 2025 Chas Alamo Recap: What Does the Main Monthly Jobs Report Tell Us?  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/839

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 22, 2021 - Bonus Pay for Bilingual Service Provider Staff. The spending plan provides $2.2  million General Fund in 2021 ‑22, $4.3  million General Fund in 2022 ‑23, and $6.5  million General Fund in 2023 ‑24 and ongoing to support wage bonuses for DSPs who are bilingual —including in American Sign Language —and can support the estimated 90,000 consumers who speak a primary language other than English.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4476/1

^[PDF] The 2025-26 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook

(Income and sales data adjusted for inflation.) -15 -10 -5 5 10 15% Total Pay to Workers -30 -20 -10 10 20 30% Business Owner Income -15 -10 -5 5 10 15% Payroll Jobs -90 -60 -30 30 60 90% Unemployed Workers -21 -14 -7 7 14 21% Taxable Sales Figure 1 Most Economic Metrics Running Below Average L E G I S L A T I V E A N A L Y S T ’
https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2024/4939/2025-26-Fiscal-Outlook-112024.pdf

California New Car Registrations: February 2026 [EconTax Blog]

Apr 7, 2026 - After growing just 1 percent from December to February, registrations are still 5 percent below the average level over the last couple of years. This slump is becoming an increasingly worrisome sign for California ’s short-term economic trajectory.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/855

California New Car Registrations: February 2026 [EconTax Blog]

Apr 7, 2026 - After growing just 1 percent from December to February, registrations are still 5 percent below the average level over the last couple of years. This slump is becoming an increasingly worrisome sign for California ’s short-term economic trajectory.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/855