Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - For example, in 2018 ‑19, the Legislature created the Budget Deficit Savings Account —which was used to temporarily hold a $2.6  billion optional deposit into the BSA —and the Safety Net Reserve —a reserve specifically dedicated to CalWORKs and Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2025-26 Budget: Undertaking Fiscal Oversight

Feb 24, 2025 - For instance, safety net programs have higher enrollment during economic downturns. Similarly, state firefighting costs rise significantly in years with larger wildfires. However, sometimes external changes can alter a program ’s scope or the population served in ways that are unanticipated.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4983

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

Jan 13, 2025 - These include funds for water recycling, wildfire prevention activities at state parks, and dam safety activities. The proposal would then provide a like amount of funding from Proposition  4, the climate bond approved by voters in November 2024.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951