The 2026-27 Budget: California Highway Patrol Proposals [Publication Details]

Mar 6, 2026 - In this post, we assess the Governor's California Highway Patrol budget proposals for (1) equipment and operating costs and (2) capital outlay projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5152

The 2026-27 Budget: California Highway Patrol Proposals

Mar 6, 2026 - Second, the department reports that it historically has used salary savings from vacancies to help cover additional operational costs. Department States That High Costs and Low Vacancy Rates Have Created Unique Cost Pressures … CHP states that it cannot depend on its historical approach to fund these activities —and therefore needs the proposed
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5152

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Transportation

Oct 16, 2025 - The budget provides $8  million on a one-time basis from MVA to cover overtime costs associated with providing protection and security at the State Capitol Complex. Child Sexual Abuse Investigations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5077

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

Jan 13, 2025 - For example, the administration’s estimate of baseline costs in Medi‑Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, is higher than our November 2024 estimate by $3.1 billion in 2025‑26. This is largely due to increased pharmacy costs, higher caseload, and a lower General Fund offset from the MCO tax package.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2025-26 Budget: Transportation Proposals

Feb 12, 2025 - Some of the major expenditure cost drivers have included (1)  increased employee compensation costs which have been driven by both increases to staffing levels and growing salary and benefit costs at CHP, (2)  workload related to the issuance of new driver licenses and ID cards that comply with federal standards (commonly referred to as “REAL IDs), ” and (3)  supplemental pension plan repayments that began in 2019 ‑20.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4961

The 2024-25 Spending Plan: Transportation

Sep 10, 2024 - The additional state staff are expected to reduce contract costs, resulting in net savings to the state of $9  million. (HSRA estimates it currently spends around $22  million for consultants to undertake this work.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4925

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Transportation

Oct 16, 2023 - The department also charges an amount for its associated indirect costs —those that are not directly tied to a specific project, but are necessary to conduct department activities. These include program-related indirect costs (such as program overhead) and administrative indirect costs (such as human resources and accounting).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4804

The 2024-25 Budget: Transportation Budget Solutions

Feb 23, 2024 - Cash Flow Adjustments Avoid Programmatic Impacts but Create Cost Pressures in Future Years. The proposed $2.8  billion in cash flow adjustments would help alleviate cost pressures in the near term by reducing General Fund commitments in 2023 ‑24.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4854

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2023 - Cost Shifts In addition to spending solutions, we estimate the Governor ’s budget includes $4.3  billion in cost shifts. Cost shifts occur when the state moves costs between entities or fund sources.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Implications for State Transportation Funding and Programs

Dec 13, 2023 - Shift Transportation Costs to Other Fund Sources Use General Fund or Existing Special Funds for Transportation. The Legislature could offset declining transportation revenues by shifting costs to the General Fund or other special funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4821