California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - Given that this deficit is estimated to range from $20  billion to $35  billion in the years ahead, addressing it gradually, rather than all at once, reduces fiscal disruption and more readily provides for legislative input and flexibility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

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

Jan 12, 2026 - Both our office and the administration expect the state to face multiyear deficits, with estimates ranging from $20  billion to $35  billion annually. These deficits are concerning for three reasons.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

The 2025-26 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 24, 2025 - Both our office and the Department of Finance (DOF) project operating deficits ranging from $10  billion to $20  billion over the multiyear period. These shortfalls represent future budget problems that would require additional budget-balancing decisions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5052

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - Those are: Raise BSA Cap to 20   Percent of General Fund Taxes. The Governor proposes raising the reserve cap from 10 percent of General Fund taxes to 20 percent of General Fund taxes. This would not have any impact on the rules that set aside funds each year, but would mean the state would save more cumulatively over time.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

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

Oct 16, 2023 - Appendix 4, Figure 7 Remaining Large One ‑Time and Temporary Augmentations From the 2021 ‑22 and 2022 ‑23 Budget Packages: Resources and Environment General Fund (In Millions) Emergency surge (helitanker contract component) $45 Clean Energy Reliability Investment Plan (SB 846) 100 Diablo Canyon land use planning — Coastal resilience SB 1 implementation 55 Clean Cars 4 All and other equity (ZEV
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4788/4

The 2025-26 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - This is entirely due to improving income tax collections, which would, under our forecast, end the current year 20  percent higher than two years ago. That being said, the ultimate outcome is highly uncertain.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4939

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

Jan 13, 2025 - The Governor has signaled interest in changing the state ’s reserve policy by: (1)  increasing the cap on BSA required deposits from 10  percent of General Fund taxes to 20  percent of General Fund taxes, and (2)  excluding the state ’s reserve deposits from the state appropriations limit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Nov 8, 2023 - Affected initiatives include (1) Emergency Medical Technician training grants (reduced by $10 million), (2) the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund (reduced by $20 million), and (3) Youth Leadership Corps (reduced by $5 million).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4814

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 20, 2024 - Of this total, about 20  percent have been devoted to prefunding retiree health benefits and 65  percent, nearly $7  billion, have been used for supplemental pension payments to reduce the state ’s unfunded liabilities associated with CalPERS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4887

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

Apr 19, 2023 - Revenues increased by nearly 30 percent in 2020-21 and another 20 percent in 2021-22. In the course of allocating the historically large surpluses generated by the revenue surge, General Fund spending increased commensurately.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4762