News from California Legislative Analysts Office
- More News:
- 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: California's Cash Flow Crisis
- 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: General Government
- 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Higher Education
- Webcast: Higher Education 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series
- Perspectives on the State's Revenue Structure
Webcast: Mac Taylor Discusses the Fiscal Outlook Under the February 2009 Budget Package
March 13, 2009
Click here to get the webcast.
2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: The Fiscal Outlook Under the February Budget Package
March 13, 2009
Click here to download the PDF
Federal Economic Stimulus Package: Summary of LAO Recommendations for Legislative Action
March 13, 2009
Click here to download the PDF
2009-10 Budget Analysis Series
February 3, 2009
Summary
Due to the very serious nature of the state's fiscal problems and the likelihood
that the Legislature will be discussing budget issues on a more accelerated pace
this year, we are departing from our traditional approach of publishing our Analysis
and our Perspectives & Issues documents. Instead, we will release a series of reports
aimed at addressing the 2009-10 budget situation. Most of these publications will relate
to specific policy areas: Health, Social Services, Resources, Transportation,
Proposition 98 Education Programs, Higher Education, Criminal Justice, and General Government.
The final report in the series, The 2009-10 Budget: Perspectives and Issues, will be released on February 18th, 2009.
PDF: 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series - Overview of the Governor's Budget
For more information from the California Legislative Analysts Office please click here.
2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: California's Cash Flow Crisis
January 14, 2009
Summary
Balancing the budget—by increasing state revenues and decreasing expenditures—is the most
important way that the Legislature can shorten the duration and severity of the state's cash flow crisis.
Absent prompt action to begin addressing the state's colossal budget gap and other measures discussed
in this report specifically to help the state's cash flows, state operations and payments will have to be delayed
more and more over time. In the event that the Legislature and the Governor are unable to reach agreement
to balance the budget by the summer of 2009, major categories of services and payments funded by the state
may grind to a halt. This could seriously erode the confidence of the public—and investors—in our state government.
To avoid this, it is urgent that the Legislature and the Governor act immediately to address the budgetary and cash
crises that have put the state on the edge of fiscal disaster.
PDF: 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series - California's Cash Flow Crisis
2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: General Government
January 30, 2009
Summary
In this report, we identify issues and present recommendations related to the General
Government portion of the budget. These include our belief that employee compensation
reductions proposed by the Governor are necessary due to the magnitude of the budget
problem. Nevertheless, we observe that the administration's plans—especially savings from
the furlough-will be difficult to achieve. We also note that due to the sagging economy and
falling energy prices in recent months, our forecast for inflation is much lower than that used
in the Governor's budget plan. Therefore we recommend the Legislature reject the price increase
and direct departments to absorb any increases in operating expenses.
PDF: 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series - General Government
2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Higher Education
January 29, 2009
Summary
The Governor's budget proposal includes $11.5 billion in General Fund support as well as
$5.7 billion in other core funding for higher education in 2009-10. The proposed budget
would increase university fees by almost $300 million while it would reduce state financial
aid programs by $88 million. It also could reduce higher education enrollment by tens of
thousands of students. We offer alternatives that would increase funding for state financial
aid programs, increase enrollment targets well above the Governor's levels, and better account
for student fee revenue.
PDF:2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Higher Education
Webcast: Higher Education 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series
January 29, 2009
Summary
Director of Higher Education, Steve Boilard, discusses the fifth report in the LAO's 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.
Click here to watch it.
Perspectives on the State's Revenue Structure
January 22, 2009
Summary
Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor's presentation to the Commission on the 21st Century Economy.
