RSS feed of recent general government budget and policy publications from the Legislative Analyst's Office.https://lao.ca.govGeneral GovernmentThe 2025-26 budget appropriated up to $20 million to the Department of Finance (DOF) to contract with a consulting firm to assist and advise DOF in creating efficiencies through process improvements in state government. The budget assumed that the process changes resulting from the contract would reduce state costs by $500 million in 2025-26, growing to $2 billion in annual savings by 2028-29. This post provides background on the state’s recent efforts to identify efficiencies to achieve budget savings and our office’s comments and recommendations concerning the progress of the administration’s efforts to reduce state costs through this contract.https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5156https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5156Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentIn 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/5152https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5152Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentPresented to: Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportationhttps://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5151https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5151Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentThis brief summarizes the history, costs, and current status of the state’s effort to deploy a Next Generation 911 system and assesses the administration’s proposal to abandon the existing regional approach in favor of a statewide model. It also offers recommendations regarding legislative oversight of this project and the long-term governance of the state’s 911 system. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5145https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5145Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentIn this post we assess the Governor’s request for permanent funding for the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5119https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5119Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentAs required by Chapter 80 of 2020 (SB 588, Archuleta), this brief reviews California’s Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) program. Specifically, it focuses on policies and practices designed to prevent program abuse and noncompliance. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5095https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5095Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentThis post discusses features of the state's spending plan that were not covered elsewhere in the 2025-26 Spending Plan series.https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5081https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5081Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentAssembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversighthttps://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5067https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5067Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentIn this report, we describe how the Legislature has delegated some of its core powers to allow the Governor to exercise emergency authorities during a state of emergency. Next, we assess the degree to which this is necessary to facilitate emergency response and whether there are adequate oversight mechanisms in place. Finally, we make various recommendations intended to allow the Legislature to exercise more of its core powers and ensure there is adequate oversight of the Governor during emergencies. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5029https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5029Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTGeneral GovernmentIn this post, we assess administration-proposed trailer bill language that would increase certain fees charged by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and make recommendations to help ensure the department has the resources it needs to meet its oversight and regulatory mission. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5025https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5025Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT