California’s Low-Wage Workers and Minimum Wage

Mar 11, 2024 - Over the last decade, California ’s nominal minimum wage has doubled from $8 per hour to $16 per hour. The state ’s minimum wage is now more than double the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 per hour since 2009.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4878/3

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - (This would add to the double ‑digit budget problem for 2024 ‑25 already projected under both our and the administration ’s estimates, as we describe below.) LAO Spending Estimates Over $10   Billion Higher Than the Administration by 2026 ‑27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4772

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - Specifically, to avoid double counting previously provided funds or because specific data are not available, we do not include projects for which funding is: (1)  continuously appropriated, such as some bond funds; (2)  reappropriated, which provides additional time for the completion of the project; (3)  reverted, if a project ended or requires modification; (4)  previously
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081

Evaluating State Economic Stimulus Proposals

Feb 1, 2021 - The COVID ‑ 19 p andemic and recession has disproportionately affected many low ‑income workers; communities of color; and businesses in tourism, hospitality, and close ‑contact personal services industries.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4331

The 2023-24 Budget: California's Film Tax Credit

Feb 28, 2023 - A similar study of California ’s film credit found being offered a credit doubled the chances a production would be made in California (Workman [2021]). Another study examining location decisions of productions around the country found that state film credits meaningfully shifted the distribution of productions towards states with credits (Owens and Rennhoff [2020]).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4713

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - The state distributed a total of $24  billion in state UI payments in 2020 —more than double the former peak from the Great Recession. (This amount does not include payments from the temporary federal UI programs that were the subject of widespread fraud.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

The 2023-24 Budget: Considering Inflation's Effects on State Programs

Nov 16, 2022 - The Legislature is likely to face a double challenge this year: a budget problem coupled with continued, elevated inflation. As the Legislature works to address the budget problem, we suggest policymakers consider the unique impacts of inflation on each of the state ’s major spending programs in conjunction with possible budget solutions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4647