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

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

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: June 1-June 5 [EconTax Blog]

Jun 5, 2020 - The second graph compares the year-over-year percent change in withholding (withholding this week relative to the same week in 2019) to the weekly changes observed from March to June of 2009, when the state was in the depths of the Great Recession.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/477

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

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: May 18-May 22 [EconTax Blog]

May 22, 2020 - The second graph compares the year-over-year percent change in withholding (withholding this week relative to the same week in 2019) to the weekly changes observed 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/470

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: 3/16 to 3/20 [EconTax Blog]

Mar 20, 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 well ahead of 2018-19.  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/443

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: May 11-May 15 [EconTax Blog]

May 18, 2020 - The second graph compares the year-over-year percent change in withholding (withholding this week relative to the same week in 2019) to the weekly changes observed 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/465

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Human Services

Oct 23, 2020 - However, the spending plan rejects the funding reductions, resulting in General Fund levels remaining flat year to year between 2019 ‑20 and 2020 ‑21. Transfers Funds From State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account to Long-Term Ombudsman Program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4286/8

The 2021-22 Budget: Peace Officer Training Mandate

Feb 4, 2021 - The proposal includes $3. 4  m illion for this aspect of the mandate based on the initial claims filed by local governments, which covers three fiscal years. The annual cost of this aspect of the mandate is difficult to estimate.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4344