California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - After the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, it took four and five years, respectively, for revenues to recover. Incorporating revenue risk into the budget now, therefore, reflects prudence, not pessimism.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - For California, the dot ‑com era —when stocks rose and then fell precipitously in response to widespread adoption of the internet —offers the most salient example. The internet has proven to be a transformative technology and, yet, the stock market ’s initial reaction was clearly overly exuberant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

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 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 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Oct 16, 2025 - The measures approved in the special session provided funding for (1)  response and recovery costs related to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and (2)  activities to address federal government actions impacting the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5079

The 2025-26 Budget: Undertaking Fiscal Oversight

Feb 24, 2025 - In addition, the Legislature could identify departments that have not been focused on in recent years and focus oversight on their activities. Which Programs Could Be Susceptible to Unanticipated Impacts?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4983

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

Jan 13, 2025 - These include funds for water recycling, wildfire prevention activities at state parks, and dam safety activities. The proposal would then provide a like amount of funding from Proposition  4, the climate bond approved by voters in November 2024.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

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

May 17, 2025 - Moreover, we recommend avoiding committing to new activities. Finally, although we have not previously recommended the Leg islature take decisive action to address the structural deficits, the state ’s persistent fiscal imbalance and the added downside risks —particularly from potential federal actions —suggest a need for a more proactive approach.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5044

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Sep 6, 2024 - Specifically, the budget cuts $400   million from the Active Transportation Program, $200   million planned for grade separation projects, and $75   million from the Highways ‑to ‑Boulevards Pilot Program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4922