The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Health Budget and Policy [Publication Details]

Oct 15, 2020 - The year-over-year net increase in General Fund spending is largely due to the projected COVID-19-related increase in the Medi-Cal caseload. The post describes major health-related actions (both policy actions and various budget adjustments) adopted by the Legislature as part of its 2020-21 spending plan.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4281

State Wildfire Response Costs Estimated to Be Higher Than Budgeted

Oct 19, 2020 - The amount budgeted for the E-Fund each year is an estimate, in part based on the average costs of the large-incident firefighting incidents over the most recent five years. The Legislature approved, as part of the budget, authority for the Director of Finance to augment the item to pay for emergency fire suppression costs following notification of the Joint Legislative Bu dget Committee.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4285

U.S. Retail Sales Update: November 2020 [EconTax Blog]

Dec 16, 2020 - …But Monthly Sales Remain Higher Than Last Year. Despite the decline noted above, November marked the sixth straight month in which sales were higher than last year. In particular, sales in November 2020 were 4.1 percent higher than sales in November 2019. 2020 ’s 11-Month Total Slightly Exceeds 2019 ’s.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/595

U.S. Retail Sales Update: September 2020 [EconTax Blog]

Oct 16, 2020 - Monthly Sales Remained Higher Than Last Year. September was the fifth straight month of growth in U.S. retail sales and the fourth straight month in which sales were higher than last year. In particular, seasonally adjusted sales rose by 1.9 percent from August to September, making sales in September 2020 5.4 percent higher than sales in September 2019.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/562

The 2020-21 Budget: The Governor’s Homelessness Plan

Feb 11, 2020 - In the absence of a plan, we encourage the Legislature take one ‑time action this year utilizing existing state mechanisms to support local efforts to address homelessness. Provide Grants to Local Governments Similar to Prior Years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4152

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: May 4-May 8 [EconTax Blog]

May 8, 2020 - The second graph compares the year-over-year percent change in withholding (withholding this week relative to the same week in 2019) to weekly declines experienced in March , April, and May of 2009, when the state was in the depths of the Great Recession.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/463

Home Prices Update: December 2020 [EconTax Blog]

Feb 1, 2021 - San Francisco ’s average home price is down 2.6 percent over the past year, neighboring San Mateo is up just 4.0 percent, and every other large county in the state is up at least 7 percent.  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/617

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: April 13-April 17 [EconTax Blog]

Apr 17, 2020 - The final graph compares withholding payments so far in the 2019-20 fiscal year to 2018-19. As of now, year-to-date payments in 2019-20 remain ahead of 2018-19.  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/453

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: April 27-May 1 [EconTax Blog]

May 1, 2020 - The second graph compares the year-over-year percent change in withholding (withholding this week relative to the same week in 2019) to average weekly decline experienced in March and April of 2009, when the state was in the depths of the Great Recession.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/460

Voluntary Contribution Tax "Check-Offs" [EconTax Blog]

Mar 4, 2020 - Tax Check-Off Donations Have Grown Significantly In Recent Years. Last year state taxpayers donated about $7.2 million to the available voluntary contribution funds. This was an increase of 3 percent over the $7 million donated in the prior year.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/439