Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - In  Chapter  2, using the tools outlined in Chapter  1, we evaluate the state ’s current reserve policy. Chapter  3 examines possible changes to the state ’s policy, including the Governor ’s proposals and our recommended alternatives.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2025-26 Budget: Undertaking Fiscal Oversight

Feb 24, 2025 - As the state ’s primary policymaking body and stewards of public resources, the Legislature regularly undertakes oversight of the state ’s programs. While this oversight can take a few forms, the Legislature ’s oversight function is often exercised through policy and budget committee hearings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4983

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Governor ’s Budget Includes Some Smaller Proposals. The Governor ’s budget includes three categories of discretionary proposals. First, some proposals provide short ‑term budget savings that create more budget capacity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

California's Legislative Analyst's Office and the Value of Independence

Nov 15, 2024 - California 's Legislative Analyst 's Office and the Value of Independence November 15, 2024 Tweet Gabriel PetekLegislative Analyst Providing the Legislature with a clear picture of the state ’s budget condition and the fiscal choices it faces is a cornerstone responsibility of the Legislative Analyst ’s Office (LAO).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4938

The 2025-26 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - In our view, this year ’s budget does not have capacity for new commitments, particularly ones that are  ongoing. Revenues Run Ahead of Broader Economy State ’s Job Market and Consumer Spending Remain Lackluster … California ’s economy has been in an extended slowdown for the better part of two years, characterized by a soft labor market and weak consumer spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4939

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 2, 2024 - Governor ’s Office of Planning and Research Reorganizes Office. The budget package reorganizes and renames the Governor ’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) into two new offices: the Governor ’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-SERVE) and the Governor ’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4934

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 2, 2024 - Governor ’s Office of Planning and Research Reorganizes Office. The budget package reorganizes and renames the Governor ’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) into two new offices: the Governor ’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-SERVE) and the Governor ’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4934/governors-office-of-emergency-services

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan

Sep 6, 2024 - Although UC ’s and CSU ’s base augmentations are to cover most of the associated cost, the budget includes $31  million in 2024 ‑25 specifically for UC to replace 902 FTE nonresident undergraduate students with resident students at the Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego campuses (combined).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4922

The 2024-25 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2024 - Our Multiyear Estimates of Expenditures Are Somewhat Lower Than the Department of Finance ’s Estimates. The main reason that our estimates of the state ’s operating deficits are slightly smaller than the administration ’s is that our estimate of General Fund spending is lower than the administration ’s estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4907

The 2024-25 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2024 - In this brief, we provide a summary of and comments on the Governor ’s revised budget, focusing on the overall condition and structure of the state General Fund —the budget ’s main operating account.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4902