Updating the California Necessities Index

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5065

Updating the California Necessities Index [Publication Details]

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5065

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - Our post provides an updated snapshot of housing affordability in California. Over the last few years, we have seen a rapid increase in California housing costs, led by the dramatic increase in the costs of purchasing a home. Despite no significant growth in housing prices since 2024, monthly costs for a newly purchased home are about $2,400 higher than they were just a few years ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - Our post provides an updated snapshot of housing affordability in California. Over the last few years, we have seen a rapid increase in California housing costs, led by the dramatic increase in the costs of purchasing a home. Despite no significant growth in housing prices since 2024, monthly costs for a newly purchased home are about $2,400 higher than they were just a few years ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/793

2025-26 Changes in Proposition 98 Spending [EdBudget]

Nov 7, 2025 - LCFF = Local Control Funding Formula, COLA = cost-of-living adjustment, IEP = individualized education program, and ELA/ELD = English language arts/English language development. Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656
https://lao.ca.gov/Education/EdBudget/Details/1007

The 2024-25 Budget: Preliminary May Revision Analysis for Child Welfare

May 24, 2024 - Passing only what is necessary this year would allow more time for the remaining stakeholder questions and policy issues to be worked out and give the Legislature the chance to assess whether the rates structure is in line with its vision for permanent CC R rates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4909

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - Focus Here on Major Downturns Because Short-Lived Corrections Usually Have Little Impact on Revenues. Smaller, short-lived corrections occur frequently, among them the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2011 U.S. debt celing standoff, the 2015 Chinese growth slowdown, the early pandemic drop in 2020, and the 2025 tariff selloff.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - Focus Here on Major Downturns Because Short-Lived Corrections Usually Have Little Impact on Revenues. Smaller, short-lived corrections occur frequently, among them the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2011 U.S. debt celing standoff, the 2015 Chinese growth slowdown, the early pandemic drop in 2020, and the 2025 tariff selloff.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

2025-26 Changes in Proposition 98 Spending [EdBudget]

Feb 4, 2025 - LCFF = Local Control Funding Formula, COLA = Cost-of-living adjustment, TK = Transitional kindergarten, FCMAT = Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, IEP = Individualized Education Program. Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656
https://lao.ca.gov/Education/EdBudget/Details/939

The 2026-27 Budget: Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program

Mar 3, 2026 - Federal Government Required to Provide Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) to SSI Grants … The federal government is required to provide an annual COLA each January to the SSI portion of the grant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5148