The 2026-27 Budget: University of California

Feb 26, 2026 - In 2023 ‑24 (the most recent year for which UC has reported data), UC reserves declined from 17  percent to 15  percent of annual core fund expenditures —equating to just under two months of reserves.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143

The 2026-27 Budget: California Community Colleges

Mar 5, 2026 - Whereas unrestricted reserves totaled $2  billion (23  percent of expenditures) in 2019 ‑20, they grew to $3.8  billion (34  percent of expenditures) in 2024 ‑25. The increase in reserves over the past five years is likely the result of several factors —including significant increases in state funding, an influx of federal relief funds during the pandemic, and savings from lower staffing levels during the  pandemic.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5150

The 2026-27 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 5, 2026 - The associated ongoing cost is built into apportionments in 2026-27. d The Governor ’s budget reappropriates funding for four research initiatives whose original expenditure periods have ended. The administration does not have estimates of the amount of remaining funds for each initiative.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5112

The 2026-27 Budget: California State University

Feb 24, 2026 - Eliminating these out ‑year augmentations would reduce projected state deficits in 2027 ‑28 and 2028 ‑29 without requiring programmatic cuts or tax increases. Rather than making commitments in advance, the Legislature could determine each year how much support it can afford to provide CSU in light of overall fiscal conditions and competing budget priorities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5142