The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 20, 2024 - Unlike reserve deposits, which can be suspended in response to a budget emergency, Proposition  2 ‑related debt payments are required every year until 2029 ‑30. (Thereafter, these debt payments become optional, but amounts not spent on debt must be deposited into the rainy ‑day reserve.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4887

The 2021-22 Budget: The Governor’s Proposition 2 Proposals

Apr 26, 2021 - Proposition  2 requires the state to spend a minimum amount each year to pay down specified debts through 2029 ‑30. When Proposition  2 was passed by the voters, there were two major categories of liabilities eligible for repayment using these monies: certain budgetary liabilities and retirement liabilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4418

California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - Throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, the stock market boomed over optimism around the Internet and dot-com start-ups. Strong tax revenue trends from this boom generated large budget surpluses that ultimately gave way to serious deficits once the bubble burst and PIT revenues declined nearly 30  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

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

Jan 12, 2026 - This includes proposals to: (1)  remove the state ’s share of costs associated with growth in IHSS hours per case, which we estimate could save $650  million by 2029 ‑30 (if hours continue to grow at their current rates); (2)  make an ongoing reduction to the Middle Class Scholarship program, which generates $541  million in savings beginning in 2027 ‑28; and (3)  make $12  million in previously provided ongoing federal ‑related litigation funding limited term.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - As shown in Figure  13 , since Proposition  2 was passed, excess capital gains to Proposition  2 have been reduced between 0  percent to 30  percent each year (larger increments are also possible, if not likely, in the future).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - However, our Fiscal Outlook revenue forecast, shown in Figure  2 , reflects a smaller, temporary upgrade which reverses beginning in 2026 ‑ 27 —resulting in 2026 ‑27 revenues being in line with budget act estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

The 2026-27 Budget: How to Use One-Time Revenue Improvements

Feb 20, 2026 - In addition, recent budgets have relied on nearly $30  billion in borrowing to address deficits, and the Governor ’s budget proposes almost $6  billion in additional borrowing (see Figure  1). A period of strong revenue growth is not an appropriate time to draw down significant reserves or continue to rely on borrowing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133

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

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Oct 16, 2025 - As of June 30, 2025, $335.9  million exclusively from the General Fund had been allocated through the control sections by DOF for these purposes. After the special session, the sections were amended to allow funds to be used to reimburse local governments through June 2026 for (1)  unmet response and recovery costs, and (2)  lost property tax revenue.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5079

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 16, 2023 - The budget package includes $2.7 billion in one time funds from various state and federal fund sources to support the following: (1) monthly rate supplement payments to providers based on region and number of enrolled children from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025; (2) a one-time provider lump-sum transitional payment; (3) a narrower definition of part-time
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4788