The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - In 2010, Orange County, Orange County Flood Control District, and 14 cities within Orange County filed a test claim with CSM contending that various sections of the 2009 permit represented state-reimbursable mandated activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards

May 30, 2025 - San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board ’s Order in South Orange County. CSM determined that several of the requirements in the permit issued by the regional board in 2009 constitute state-reimbursable mandates for Orange County, Orange County Flood Control District, and the cities of South Orange County that are within the San Diego region.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board [Publication Details]

May 5, 2025 - In this budget post, we discuss a municipal stormwater mandate issued by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2009 for local governments in Orange County.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5039

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - Emitters pay for allowances, similar to the way they would pay a tax on their GHG emissions. A key difference between allowances and taxes is how the revenues are allocated. In the case of taxes, all of the revenues come directly to the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Proposals at May Revision

May 19, 2025 - Since the passage of AB  398 in 2017 (with a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature), GGRF is considered akin to a tax. As such, it is a flexible funding source that can be used to help meet the state ’s most important activities (similar to the General Fund).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5049

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Significant Changes to Solutions From June 2024 Budget Package Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax Package. Some of the largest budget solutions in the June budget package involved the MCO tax, a tax on health plans that supports the Medi ‑Cal program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2025-26 Budget: Natural Resources and Agriculture Discretionary Spending Proposals

Feb 18, 2025 - Additionally, the state provides $3  million annually in ongoing Proposition  98 funds to the Los Angeles County Office of Education to support anti ‑bias training and professional development for education professionals conducted by the museum.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - CalFire —Contract County Crews. $25 million in 2022 ‑23 increasing to $35 million ongoing thereafter to fund 12 hand crews for contract counties. OES —Fire  Engine Pre ‑Positioning.  $25  million annually beginning in 2017 ‑18 to pre ‑position mutual aid fire engines and other related equipment in order to decrease local response times to potentially destructive wildfires and other disasters.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - Electric utility bills often reflect a number of other state and local taxes and charges. For  example, many local jurisdictions impose utility taxes that are used to support local programs, such as fire response and parks.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2025-26 Budget: Various California Air Resources Board Proposals

Feb 24, 2025 - (This is in contrast to taxes, from which revenues can be used for a broader range of activities and which require a two ‑thirds vote of each house of the Legislature.) Legislature Has Longstanding Practice of Granting Departments Authority to Assess Specific Fees.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980