An Update on California’s Cash Management Situation

Aug 31, 2020 - Meanwhile, the state ’s 2020-21 budget package took steps to begin payment deferrals to schools at the end of 2019-20. As a result, payments to schools in June of 2020 were only $300  million, compared to $6  billion anticipated earlier this year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4266

The 2020-21 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2020 - (When the state defers payments to schools from one fiscal year to the next, the state can reduce spending while allowing school districts to continue operating a larger program by borrowing or using cash reserves.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4232

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

Federal COVID-19-Related Funding to California

Apr 28, 2020 - The first section describes funding allocated to public entities in the state, for example, the state government, local governments, other public entities like school districts and tribal governments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4226

State Funding Actions Related to COVID-19

Apr 20, 2020 - This legislation appropriated $100  million in Proposition  98 (1988) funds to be used for purchasing personal protective equipment and sanitizing and cleaning school facilities. Subsequent guidance from the California Department of Education also allows school districts to use these funds more broadly to meet other needs, such as supporting distance learning.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4223

COVID-19 and California’s Evolving Fiscal Outlook

Mar 18, 2020 - The extended tax filing due date —while justified —will further complicate the task of developing revised revenue estimates both for the current year and the 2020 ‑21 fiscal year. Given that it will take time to appraise the ultimate effects on the state, the Legislature may need to take incremental steps —like adopting a workload budget in the nearer term —to
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4203

The 2020-21 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 10, 2020 - In those intervening years, there would be a difference between the rate the state is paying and the rate the state would pay if the CalSTRS board had full rate setting authority. In dollar terms, this difference would very roughly equal $ 525  m illion in the first year, $ 350  m illion in the second year, and $ 175  m illion in the third year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4196

The 2020-21 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals [Publication Details]

Mar 10, 2020 - The Governor offers one strategy to prioritize these funds over the next few years. Notably, the Governor focuses on the state’s share of the unfunded liability for teachers’ pensions. While we agree this focus makes sense, the amounts the Governor proposes dedicating to this purpose are not connected to the specific actuarial needs of the teachers’ pension system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4196

Taking Stock of California’s Recession Readiness

Feb 12, 2020 - However, to the extent the Legislature instead preferred not to reduce funding levels —particularly for schools —in response to a revenue decline, larger reserves (or entering operating surpluses) are needed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4156

The 2020-21 Budget: Structuring the Budget [Publication Details]

Feb 10, 2020 - California has made significant progress in recent years to make its budget more resilient. Yet the process of achieving resilience can never be considered finished. This report lays out a framework for evaluating the budget’s structure using two key tools: reserves and operating surpluses. Using this framework, we evaluate the Governor’s proposed 2020-21 budget structure.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4150