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

Jan 13, 2025 - Update (1/16/25): A set of tables detailing various solutions and proposals has been appended to the online version of this report. They are available using the HTML link above. On January 10, 2025, Governor Newsom’s administration presented its proposed state budget to the California Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951/3

Proposition 19 [Ballot]

Nov 3, 2020 - Schools could receive similar property tax gains. Possible Reduction in State Costs for Schools in Some Years. In limited situations, total school funding from property taxes and state taxes could be about the same in some years despite schools ’ property tax gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=19&year=2020

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

Oct 29, 2020 - Most notably, if a charter school closes during the 2020 ‑21 school year, the attendance it previously generated will be credited to its sponsoring school district. Modifies Instructional Requirements to Allow for Distance Learning.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4291

Improving California’s Unemployment Insurance Program

Aug 8, 2022 - Some workers also may be eligible under the state ’s alternative base period, which is the last four completed calendar quarters prior to the job loss . Workers who started working recently —for example, recent school graduates or workers returning to work after looking after children —often do not meet this requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4615

Public sector unions and collective bargaining. [Ballot]

Sep 28, 2021 - In order to receive the full benefi t, state employees must retire with at least 20  or 25 years of service, depending on the vesting schedule. Eligible state employees receive a benefit for life, even after they are eligible for Medicare.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2021-008

What Do Unanticipated Revenues Mean for the Surplus? [EconTax Blog]

Sep 20, 2021 - They are: Proposition 98: Spending on Schools and Community Colleges. The Proposition 98 formulas determine the minimum amount the state must spend on schools and community colleges each year. The formulas account for changes in General Fund revenue as well as other inputs, such as changes in school enrollment and the level of spending on schools and community colleges in the previous year.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/697

The 2020-21 Budget: California's Spring Fiscal Outlook

May 8, 2020 - Historically, the state has provided the minimum level of funding for schools and community colleges, even when those levels result in year ‑over ‑year reductions. This approach, however, would involve extraordinary reductions in overall education funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4228

The 2022-23 Budget: Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals and Program Implementation Updates

Feb 22, 2022 - BFH received two General Fund funding tranches —each expendable over three years —in fiscal years 2016 ‑17 ($10  million) and in 2019 ‑20 ($25  million). Twelve counties received funding in the first grant cycle, and the 2019 ‑20 funds were awarded to 22 counties and one tribe.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4558

The 2022-23 Budget: K-12 Early Literacy Proposals [Publication Details]

Feb 15, 2022 - This post provides background on school funding and literacy, describes the Governor’s K-12 early literacy proposals for schools, and offers associated assessments and recommendations to the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4539

The 2023-24 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook [Publication Details]

Nov 16, 2022 - Update (11/22/22): The original version of this report identified a $25 billion —instead of a $24 billion —budget problem, which reflected an error in the way we accounted for student housing grant program funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4646