Building Permits Update: July 2020 [EconTax Blog]

Aug 31, 2020 - Nearly 60 percent of the state total came from just two counties: Los Angeles, which recorded its biggest monthly total since January, and Santa Clara, which had its biggest month since 2018. Nonresidential construction permits were slightly lower in July than in June.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/536

U.S. Retail Sales: April 2020 [EconTax Blog]

May 18, 2020 - Although these data are not specific to California, they can help us understand the likely effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on revenues from the sales and use tax, a key state and local revenue source.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/466

Major Potential State Fiscal Risk Averted Following Withdrawal of Proposed Federal Medicaid Financing Regulation

Sep 21, 2020 - For example, MFAR effectively would have prohibited health care-related taxes that place different tax rates on taxpayers based on their levels of Medicaid (versus non-Medicaid) activity. In their current forms, both the hospital quality assurance fee and the MCO tax likely would have run afoul of these rule changes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4269

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Health

Apr 5, 2022 - Following the 2018 Camp Fire, for example, nearby health systems in Butte County experienced increased demand due to the loss of 100 staffed hospital beds in Paradise. Increased Demand for Certain Services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4580

Cannabis Tax Revenue Update [EconTax Blog]

Dec 4, 2019 - Cannabis Tax Revenue Update [EconTax Blog] Seth Kerstein In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64 , which legalized the nonmedical use of cannabis. The state levies two excise taxes on cannabis: a retail excise tax and a cultivation tax.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/417

The 2021-22 Budget: LAO Preliminary Comments on the May Revision Medi-Cal Budget

May 21, 2021 - CalAIM, as proposed in January, would place new requirements on counties to initiate Medi ‑Cal enrollment, care coordination, and services for county inmates prior to their release from jail. These new requirements would take effect in January 2023.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4436

The 2019-20 Budget: California Spending Plan—Conformity

Oct 17, 2019 - This post explains how each of the tax conformity provisions changes the state ’s tax laws. The administration coupled tax conformity with an expansion of the state ’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4100

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

Apr 17, 2020 - Income Tax Withholding Tracker: April 13-April 17 [EconTax Blog] Income Tax Withholding Tracker: April 13-April 17 April 17, 2020 Justin Garosi Bottom Line: Breaking with the pattern of recent weeks, this week ’s withholding was slightly above the comparable week in 2019.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/453

Unit 2 (Attorneys) MOU Analysis

Sep 12, 2019 - CASE contracted with UCLA to compare salaries of Unit 2 attorneys and administrative law judges to salaries for comparable municipal, county, and federal positions. The study draws from State Controller payroll data for city, county, and superior courts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4095

Nutrition Programs in COVID-19 Recovery Actions

Mar 25, 2020 - In addition, the California Department of Social Services —which oversees county-level administration of most federal and state nutrition programs —has issued guidance to counties on how to minimize face-to-face interactions with recipients during the public health crisis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4211