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

Nov 16, 2022 - As described earlier, most state cash and cash‑like benefits, such as for CalWORKs, SSI/SSP, and the non‑tuition portion of state Cal Grants, currently are not adjusted for inflation. As a result, we expect the real value of these assistance programs to decline more rapidly than prior years as higher inflation persists.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4647

The 2025-26 Budget: Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Mar 18, 2025 - Analysis Target Populations Have Real but Varying Needs. While characteristics of CA RISE participants are not available, data from LA:RISE show that likely participants have difficulty maintaining stable employment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5018

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - These include the state ’s food assistance program (CalFresh, 77  percent take ‑up rate), the state ’s cash assistance program (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids [CalWORKs], 60  percent), and the federal tax credit for low income tax filers (the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, 80  percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

California’s Low-Wage Workers and Minimum Wage

Mar 11, 2024 - For respondents who report usual weekly earnings and hours but not hourly wages, we calculate the hourly wage by dividing usual weekly earnings by weekly hours. We default to using usual weekly hours, but we use last week ’s hours if usual hours are not available.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4878/4

The 2024-25 Budget: Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

Feb 20, 2024 - They are concerned that their low cash on hand will prevent them for receiving the lowest possible borrowing costs on their bonds and, therefore, have requested $50  million General Fund to boost their cash on hand and ensure favorable borrowing terms.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4846

Local Sales Tax Rebates in 2023-24

Sep 16, 2025 - The second is encouraging retailers to shift the legally-defined place of sale without changing the location of any real economic activity. E-commerce can enable this type of revenue shifting. As another example, consider a fuel supplier that makes advance sales of large amounts of fuel from a sales office.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5074

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - Flexible Cash Assistance for Survivors of Crime Grant Program Reversion. To help address the fiscal difficulties facing the state, the budget reverts $50  million General Fund from the Flexible Cash Assistance for Survivors of Crime pilot program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081

Tax Credit Expansions in the American Rescue Plan

Apr 13, 2021 - This piece will briefly describe the changes to three credits that apply to many lower-income and middle-income filers: the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and the Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit ( “child care credit ”).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4410

Effect of Returning to Historical Estimated Tax Payment Schedule

Feb 27, 2023 - These payments are made in April, June, and September of the year the income is earned, as well as January of the following year. State Changed Payment Schedule During Great Recession to Address Budget Problem.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4722

California’s Low-Wage Workers and Minimum Wage

Mar 11, 2024 - Differences in Weekly Hours Amplify Earnings Inequality. Figure  5 shows that mid-to-high-wage workers are much more likely to work full-time than low-wage workers. As a result, the gap between these groups ’ weekly earnings is wider than the gap between their hourly wages.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4878/1