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May 15, 2016 - As our office publishes responses to the Governor's 2016-17 May Revision, we will add them to this index page.
May 15, 2016 - The Governor’s May Revision requests a total of 10,389 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff resources and about $1.9 billion for the Capital Outlay Support program at Caltrans in 2016-17. This includes a proposed increase of 877 FTEs and $156 million to support projects that would be funded from the estimated increase in transportation funding resulting from the Governor’s proposed funding package. While the Legislature has been considering various proposals to increase funding for transportation projects (including the package proposed by the Governor) as part of a special legislative session, it has not adopted any such proposals at this time. Thus, we find it is premature to approve additional COS resources as proposed by the Governor until a specific transportation funding proposal is adopted.
May 15, 2016 - In the May Revision, the Governor proposes ending 2016-17 with $8.5 billion in total state General Fund reserves. This level of reserves is about $1.7 billion lower than the level proposed by the Governor in January, which largely reflects a downward revision in revenue estimates since then, as well as increased required spending on K-14 education. Nevertheless, estimated tax revenues continue to exceed proposed spending in 2016-17, which would facilitate total reserves ending 2016-17 at $4 billion above the level assumed in the state's 2015-16 budget plan. Since January, the state has made budgetary commitments that represent substantial new ongoing costs for the state. These include: (1) an increase in the statewide minimum wage, (2) augmentations for health and human service programs, and (3) increased costs associated with new collective bargaining agreements. These commitments, along with the lower estimates of revenues and reserves, mean there is now less capacity than there was in January for additional budgetary commitments. Given these developments, and at this point in a mature economic expansion, we think it would be prudent to pursue a target for total reserves that is at least as large as the $8.5 billion amount in the Governor’s revised budget.
May 11, 2016 - On April 29, the administration released its initial draft list of $400 million in deferred maintenance projects proposed for funding as part of the Governor’s 2016-17 budget. In this post, we summarize the draft list of projects. Also, given that there are only a few weeks remaining before the constitutionally-required June 15th deadline for the Legislature to adopt a state budget for 2016-17, we suggest that the Legislature may want to prioritize its review of the administration’s draft list. Furthermore, in the future, we recommend that the administration provide the Legislature with (1) information about its long-term plan for addressing the state’s deferred maintenance backlog and (2) more detailed information on proposed projects earlier in the budget process.
May 10, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Health Committee and Senate Health Committee
May 4, 2016 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation
May 3, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Public Safety Committee and Senate Public Safety Committee
April 27, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation
April 26, 2016 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
April 21, 2016 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Transportation
April 21, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 4 On State Administration and General Government Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 On Corrections, Public Safety, and the Judiciary
April 20, 2016 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation
April 15, 2016 - In March, the administration released its annual report on cap-and-trade spending outcomes. In this post, we summarize the information included in the report and, based on our review of the information, identify issues for legislative consideration.
April 15, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration and General Government and Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments
April 14, 2016 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Transportation