California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - Rather than broad-based economic growth, PIT strength has been fueled by a very bullish stock market. Whereas California’s labor market has stagnated over the last two years, the S&P 500 stock index has appreciated roughly 50 percent over the same period.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - As always, our Fiscal Outlook evaluates the budget ’s condition based on current law and policy both at the state and federal level. This means we are assessing the state ’s spending and revenues assuming no new laws or policies are enacted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

The 2026-27 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget [Publication Details]

Jan 12, 2026 - On January 9, 2026, Governor Newsom’s administration presented its proposed state budget to the California Legislature. In this report, we provide a high-level summary and our initial analysis of the Governor’s budget based on our preliminary review (as of January 10). Assembly Budget Handout (PDF) Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Handout (PDF)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5101

The 2026-27 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 12, 2026 - In this report, we provide a high ‑level summary and our initial analysis of the Governor ’s budget based on our preliminary review (as of January 10). In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release many additional issue ‑specific budget analyses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

Whether or Not to Tap Reserves to Solve Estimated Budget Problem Emerges as Key Fiscal Decision Facing California’s Legislature

Apr 19, 2023 - Other downturns, such as the 2001 so-called dot-com recession, had severe fiscal implications while inflicting somewhat milder economic damage. The 2008 Great Recession had brutal effects on both the state ’s economy and budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4762

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - In March of 2004, on the heels of the dot ‑com bust, voters passed Proposition  58, which created the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA). In the 2006 ‑07 budget, the Legislature deposited $472  million into the BSA and in 2007 ‑08 deposited $1.5  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook [Publication Details]

Nov 19, 2025 - Each year, our office publishes the Fiscal Outlook in anticipation of the upcoming budget season. This report gives the Legislature our independent estimates and analysis of the state’s General Fund budget condition with the goal of helping lawmakers prepare for the 2026-27 budget process.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5091

The 2025-26 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor's May Revision

May 17, 2025 - The largest May Revision discretionary proposal relates to the base funding cuts for UC and CSU. The May Revision reduces planned base cuts from 7.95  percent, as agreed to in last year ’s budget, to 3  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5044

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Assessment

Feb 15, 2023 - Three of those —the recession in the early 1990s, the dot ‑com bust in the early 2000s, and the Great Recession —resulted in large revenue shortfalls and ensuing multiyear deficits, even for some years after each recession ended.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4687

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Sep 6, 2024 - Out ‑Year Base Augmentations for Universities Are Deferred. Under the budget agreement, the state plans to defer UC and CSU base augmentations over the subsequent two years. Specifically, the state plans to delay base university augmentations totaling $493  million from 2025 ‑26 until 2026 ‑27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4922